Army Sgt. 1st Class Kristoffer B. Domeij

Remember Our Heroes

Army Sgt. 1st Class Kristoffer B. Domeij, 29, of San Diego

SFC Domeij was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.; died Oct. 22, 2011 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.


SFC Domeij grew up in San Diego, CA and Colorado Springs, CO. He lived in Lacey, WA with his wife and two children.

SFC Domeij graduated from Rancho Bernardo High School in 2001. He enlisted in the Army in July 2001.

He was on his 14th deployment (four to Iraq, nine to Afghanistan), making him the Army Ranger with the most deployments to date killed in action. Rangers serve three to four month tours of duty that are significantly shorter than the year-long deployments served by soldiers in conventional units. But during those short deployments they see a constant churn of intense combat missions. On average, a Ranger battalion will conduct between 400 to 500 missions during a combat deployment.

SFC Domeij had the distinction of being one of the first Rangers to be qualified as a Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC), a position usually reserved for Air Force airmen who serve with ground combat units and call in airstrikes from fighters or bombers

He was a part of the unit that was involved in the rescue of wounded US Pvt Jessica Lynch from an Iraqi hospital where she was being held captive.

Col. Mark W. Odom, commander of the 75th Ranger Regiment, called Domeij "the prototypical special operations NCO" whose abilities as a JTAC "made him a game changer on the battlefield, an operator who in real terms had the value of an entire strike force on the battlefield."

Battalion Commander, LT Col David Hodne, described SFC Domeij as "one of those men who was knonw by all as much for his humor, enthusiasm, and loyal friendship, as he was for his unparalleled skill and bravery under fire. This was a Ranger you wanted at your side when the chips were down. He is irreplaceable in our formation and in our hearts."

SFC Domeij's awards and decorations include:
Bronze Star Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Purple Heart
Meritorious Service Medal
Joint Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Army Achievement Medal
Army Good Conduct Medal with three loops
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two campaign stars
Iraq Campaign Medal with three campaign stars
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Noncommissioned Offficer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral three
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Ribbon with numeral four
Ranger Tab
Combat Action Badge
Expert Infantry Bade
Senior Parachutist Badge
Pathfinder Badge
Expert Rifle Marksmanship Qualification Badge

SFC Domeij is survived by his mother, Scoti; wife, Sarah and their daughters, Mikajsa and Aaliyah; brother Kyle.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Kristoffer B. Domeij was killed in action on 10/22/11.