Sgt. 1st Class Mitchell A. Lane, 34, was a Special Forces engineer sergeant assigned to Company C, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C.
He died from injuries he suffered from a fall while conducting a fast rope infiltration from a helicopter during a night combat assault Aug. 29, 2003 near Deh Chopan in Afghanistan’s Zabul province.
A native of California, Lane enlisted in the Army National Guard in May 1987. He later volunteered for active duty as a combat engineer in October 1991. He subsequently served in a number of engineer units at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., until he was selected for Special Forces training in 1995.
After completion of the Special Forces Qualification Course, Lane served in several assignments with the 3rd SFG.
Awards: Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge, the Scuba Diver Badge and the Special Forces Tab.
Lane is survived by his wife, two children, his parents and three brothers.
