US Mountain Ranger Association

Earl Robert Fillmore Jr. was born in Latrobe, Pennsylvania on 16 June 1965. Earl graduated from Derry Area High School in 1983. Following High School Earl entered the Army on 19 August 1983 and went to Ft Jackson, South Carolina. Earl's first assignment was with A Company of the 1st Bn. 7th Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, N.C. Earl was a graduate of the Special Forces medical course and his initial assignment in Special Forces was as a medic.

In 1987 Earl attended the 1st Special Forces Operational Detatchment-DELTA's selection course. Earl was chosen as one of only 11 soldiers from a pool of over 200 to attend the Operator's Training Course (OTC). Earl excelled in this new environment both as a medic and a shooter, and quickly mastered all skills required to be a part of this special organization. While assigned to Delta, Earl participated in the invasion of Panama (Just Cause), and operations in Iraq during Desert Storm and Desert Shield. Earl also participated in the "Battle of the Black Sea" in Mogadishu, Somalia in 1993. Earl participated in many other important, though not yet de-classified operations while assigned as a member of 1st SFOD-D.

Earl had numerous awards and qualifications that included the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Accommodation Medal, Master Parachutist Badge, HALO Badge, Special Forces and Ranger Tabs.

Earl was driven to do his best at every endeavor and always succeeded at whatever task he put his mind to. Earl established himself as the youngest Operator to complete the Delta assessment and selection, and subsequent Operators Training Course. He attended the Ranger Course as a Sergeant First Class and graduated as the honor graduate of his class. He finished the course with the following record: 1st time go's in all evaluated tasks, Go's in all 6 graded patrols, 7 major plus spot reports, peers - 90, 86, 91, and 93.

He was successful in every mission during training or combat and was in every sense a walking testament to the professional soldier. Earl would accept nothing less than a team mate's best effort, and in return Earl gave his best effort every time.

It was this drive that carried Earl to the streets of Mogadishu, Somalia on 03 October 1993. Earl was responding to help his mates trapped inside a downed helicopter when he was fatally wounded. Earl Robert Fillmore Jr. is remembered as a son, a husband, and a soldier who died trying to help other soldiers in need.