Sgt. Maj. James G. “Ryan” Sartor, 40, a Special Forces company sergeant major, died Saturday, July 13, 2019 during combat operations in Faryab province, Afghanistan, the Army announced Sunday.
“We are saddened to learn of the passing of Sgt. Major James’Ryan’ Sartor while serving our nation in Afghanistan,” said Teague Mayor James Monks.
Sgt. Maj. Sartor graduated from Teague High School in the Class of 1997. Mayor Monks ordered the flags on all City of Teague properties to be flown at half statt in honor and respect of his service.
A Community Candlelight Vigil took place Tuesday evening, July 16th at the Veteran Memorial Park in Teague, Texas. An area on site to collect cards and tributes for the Sartor family was available to attendees.
Sartor was assigned to 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne). He died from injuries from enemy small arms fire, according to a Defense Department release.
He joined the Army in June 2001 and was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division as an infantryman. After he completed the Special Forces Qualification Course, Sartor was assigned to 10th SFG (A) in 2005.
Sartor had deployed numerous times, according to a release from U.S. Army Special Operations Command. He first deployed to Iraq as an infantryman in 2002. As a Green Beret, he was deployed in 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010 with 2nd Battalion, 10th Group. He also deployed with the 10th to Afghanistan in 2017 and 2019.
“We’re incredibly saddened to learn of Sgt. Maj. James ‘Ryan’ Sartor’s passing in Afghanistan. Ryan was a beloved warrior who epitomized the quiet professional,” said Col. Brian R. Rauen, commander of 10th Group. “He led his soldiers from the front and his presence will be terribly missed.”
Sartor’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal, Presidential Unit Citation Award, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Valorous Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Unit Citation with one oak leaf cluster and National Defense Service Medal, among others.
He has been posthumously awarded the Purple Heart medal and Bronze Star medal.
Sartor also earned the Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge and Special Operations Diver Badge.
He is the 12th service member to have died this year in Afghanistan. Nine others have died in combat and two in non-combat related incidents.
