Authorities are investigating the Thursday non-combat death of an Okinawa-based Special Forces soldier, according to a Friday release from U.S. Army Special Operations Command.



Sgt. 1st Class Shawn Green, 38, was a military liaison to the U.S. embassy in Papua New Guinea, assigned to 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group in Okinawa, Japan, the release said.



“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Sgt. 1st Class Shawn Green,” said Col. Will Beaurpere, 1st SFG’s commander, in the release. “He served his nation selflessly, and his death is a loss that will be felt across the Special Forces community. Our condolences go to his family, and our thoughts and prayers are with them.”

While no further details are available about the circumstances of his death, USASOC spokesman Lt. Col. Robert Bockholt clarified that it was not a vehicle-related accident.



Sgt. 1st Class Shawn Green, a Green Beret assigned to 1st Special Forces Group, died in a non-combat incident April 26, 2018, while serving in Papua New Guinea. (U.S. Army photo)

Green joined the Army as a cavalry scout in 2003 before completing Special Forces selection training and reporting to 1st SFG, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, in 2011, the release said.



The Green Beret’s deployments included two stints in Iraq, and one each to the Philippines, Thailand and Afghanistan.



His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal and Army Achievement Medal.

