On February 12th, US Army Specialist John Alexander Pelham was killed from small arms fire in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in the Kapisa Province of Afghanistan while serving with the 2nd Battalion of the 3rd Special Forces Group (A). This was John's second deployment, He was 22 years old. John’s love of life was evident in his desire to stand up for the underdog. It is fitting that he would die while serving with the U. S. Army Green Berets whose motto "De Oppresso Liber" translated means, "To Free the Oppressed"!

John leaves behind a large family including 4 nieces he got to meet, and an additional niece and two nephews who came along after he died. The 4 girls looked forward to their time with "Uncle Al". They would always ask him to "fly them" where he would toss them high in the air and they would giggle all the way down. John was the center of attention at our family gatherings with his great laugh and stories of his adventures around the world.