Master Sgt. Ivica Jerak died Aug. 25, 2005, while conducting combat operations in Iraq against known enemies of the United States of America.

He was born Oct. 12, 1962 in Debeljak, former Republic of Yugoslavia and graduated from the Center for Education of Personnel in Zadar, former Republic of Yugoslavia in July 1981.

He entered the U.S. Army as a combat medic Jan. 19, 1988, and after completion of Initial Entry Training, was assigned to the 690th Medical Company, Fort Benning, Ga. Since that time, Jerak served in the 3rd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne). His last assignment was as an assistant team sergeant assigned to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C.

Jerak completed several military courses while serving in the United States Army to include the Pathfinder Course, the Ranger Course, the Basic Airborne Course, the Static Line Jumpmaster Course, the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course, the Special Operations Medical Course, the Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Course, the Military Freefall Course, the Jumpmaster Course, and the Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Course.

Jerak’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal for valor, the Bronze Star Medal (3), the Purple Heart (2), the Meritorious Service Medal (3), the Joint Service Commendation Medal for valor, the Army Commendation Medal (4), the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Army Superior Unit Award, the Army Good Conduct Medal (5), the National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze service stars, the Kosovo Campaign Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral three, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal (2), the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), the Kuwait Medal (Government of Kuwait), the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Expert Field Medical Badge, the Senior Parachutist Badge, the Pathfinder Badge, the Military Freefall Jumpmaster Badge, the Ranger Tab, the Special Forces Tab and the Driver and Mechanic Badge. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal.

He is survived by his wife, Hye Jerak and his mother, Milka Jerak.