Jonathan Farmer - SF WO KIA in Syria

Jonathan Farmer, KIA in Syria, 2019, 5th Special Forces Group

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jonathan Farmer, age 37, of Boynton Beach, Florida died of wounds sustained during an attack while conducting a local engagement in Manbij, Syria, January 16, 2019.

Born April 27, 1981, Farmer joined the U.S. Army on March 30, 2005. He attended One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, Georgia in 2005 followed by the Special Forces Qualification Course. He graduated in 2007 as a Special Forces Engineer Sergeant and was assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Farmer earned his commission as a Special Forces Warrant Officer in 2016. Following graduation for the basic Special Forces Warrant Officer Course, he was selected to serve as an Assistant Detachment Commander.

Farmer served on six overseas combat tours. Twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in October 2007 and January 2009; once in support of Operation New Dawn in August 2010; once in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from January 2012; and twice in support of Operation Inherent Resolve in January 2018 and January 2019 until his passing.

Farmer’s military education includes One Station Unit Training, the Basic Airborne Course, Survival Evasion Resistance Escape Course, Special Forces Qualification Course, the Advanced Special Operations Technical Course, the Advanced Leader’s Course, Special Forces Warrant Officer Candidate School, the Special Forces Warrant Officer Basic Course, and the Warrant Officer Technical and Tactical Certification Course.

Farmer’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal with “C” Device, Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Ribbon with one campaign star, Iraqi Campaign Medal with three campaign stars, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NATO medal, Special Forces Tab, Parachutist Badge, and Combat Infantryman’s Badge.

Jonathan Farmer was born in Boynton Beach, Florida. For part of his childhood he lived in Laconia, New Hampshire. He played on the high school’s baseball and basketball teams and completed his sophomore year before moving to Florida in 1997.

He returned to Florida as a teenager where he attended the Benjamin School in Palm Beach, Florida. He played baseball and basketball for this high school as well. He graduated from the Benjamin School in 1999. A statement on the prep school’s website talked about his time there:

“We remember Jon as a great student and athlete who truly excelled on the basketball team. The Benjamin School is proud of Jon’s service to our country, and we mourn with the rest of the nation at the loss of a true American warrior.”

He was a 2003 graduate of Bowdoin College in Maine where he starred on the basketball team playing the position of forward and in the role of Captain of the 2003-2004 men’s basketball team. He was a history major in college. In May 2004 Farmer was awarded the William J. Fraser Trophy given to the player “who best exemplifies the spirit of Bowdoin basketball.”

Farmer is survived by his spouse, four children, and his parents.