Here’s a true combat story nobody knows about. It’s about a US Army Special Forces soldier (Green Beret) military advisor, attached to the 4^th Brigade, El Paraiso, El Salvador. This lone American soldier was killed in action on a foreign military compound.

First let me give you the stats on this brave Special Forces soldier.

Name:—————————————-Staff Sergeant Gregory Allen Fronius

Born & Raised:————————-Painsville, OH

Home of Record:———————-Greensburg, Pennsylvania

Age:——————————————-27

Height:————————————-05-foot 11-inches

Weight:————————————180-pounds

Hair:—————————————–Red

Host Unit:——————————–3^rd Battalion, 7^th Special Force Group (Airborne), Fort Davis, Panama

Duty Assignment:——————-US Military Advisor

Assigned Foreign Unit:———-4^th Brigade, El Paraiso, El Salvador (January 1987)

US Military Advisors:————-01 of 55 throughout El Salvador

Military Action:———————-El Salvador Civil War (07 years)

Awards & Decorations:———-Silver Star, Airborne School, US Army Master Parachutist Wings, Special Forces Qualification Course, Combat Infantry Badge,… (not a complete listing)

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On 31 March 1987 (Tuesday), at approximately 0200 hours (2am), approximately 100 pro-Cuban guerrillas of the Marxist group Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front launched a surprise attack on the military compound – El Paraiso, El Salvador – located approximately 36 miles north of the capital, San Salvador.

El Paraiso compound is usually complimented with approximately 1,000 Salvadorian soldiers and 02 US Army Special Forces military advisors, but at the time of the attack, only 250 defenders occupied the compound complimented with 01 Special Forces soldier – SSG Fronius. Two Special Forces advisors are assigned to the El Paraiso compound, but at the time of the attack, only SSG Fronius was present for duty.

Approximately 100 enemy guerillas launched their attack with highly accurate mortar fire at the center of the El Paraiso compound. The mortar fire was complimented with rockets (RPGs) and small arms fire.

Guerilla sapper teams (sets-up demolition chargers) breached the defensive wire and attacked the barracks with demolitions and spraying Salvadorian soldiers with small arms automatic weapons fire.

The attack was concentrated on administrative buildings, Officer’s quarters and the 4^th Brigade Intelligence Center. Several buildings were gutted from explosions and fires.

The rebels followed the 03 Principles of a Raid – Surprise, Speed and Violence of Action. According to survivors, the rebels rained highly accurate mortar fire and rockets on the center of the base. Guerrilla sapper teams then cut the perimeter wire and raced in with satchel charges (demolition devices), blowing up barracks and raking Salvadorian soldiers with automatic weapons fire.

SSG Fronius was reported to have immediately engaged the attacking rebels and was already wounded while rallying and organizing the Salvadorian defenders to defend their compound and repel the attackers. SSG Fronius during his actions was reported to take a direct hit from either a mortar round or a rocket (RPG) which ended his life.

The battle at El Paraiso lasted approximately 02 1/2-hours. SSG Fronius was killed in action along with 43 allied Salvadorian soldiers killed and another 35 Salvadorian soldiers wounded. 08 enemy rebels were killed and unknown number of guerillas wounded.

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Inside Job #01: I (author) was initially assigned to C Company, 3^rd Battalion, 7^th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Davis, Panama in December 1986. When SSG Fronius was killed in action, the rumors within the Special Forces battalion was that the attack had help from Salvadorian soldiers (spies ?) assigned to the 4^th Brigade and already inside the compound.

The Chief of Staff of the Salvadoran Army, Gen. Adolfo O. Blandon, said he ‘suspected that some of the attackers had infiltrated the army to gather intelligence for the attack.’

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Inside Job #02: Here’s a quote from an article. Sorry I lost the exact source. This supports the case of an “Inside Job.”

In 2007, DIA counterintelligence official Scott W. Carmichael alleged that it was Ana Montes, a DIA Agent who was spying for Cuba, who told Cuban intelligence officers about a clandestine U.S. Army camp in El Salvador.

Carmichael alleged that Montes knew about the existence of the Special Forces camp because she visited it in only a few short weeks before the camp was attacked in 1987 by Cuban-supported guerrillas of the FMLN.

Carmichael, who led DIA’s investigation of Montes, named Montes as being directly responsible for the death of Green Beret SSG Gregory A. Fronius who was killed at El Paraiso, El Salvador, on March 31, 1987 during the FMLN attack.

Carmichael characterized the damage Montes caused to the DIA and other U.S. intelligence agencies as “exceptionally grave,” and stated that she compromised a “special access program” that was kept even from him, the lead investigator on her case. Montes is serving life in prison.

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Inside Job #03: Here’s another fact that adds to the case of an “Inside Job.” The base / compound was noted to be designed by ‘American Special Forces advisers’ back in 1982, approximately 05-years before the 31 March 1987 attack. The El Paraiso compound was noted to be IMPREGNABLE. If so, how did the rebel attack force enter and overrun the compound so easily? My humble opinion: It had help from within the compound.

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Five Time Volunteer!

Staff Sergeant Gregory Allen Fronius was not only a great patriot, but he was a 05-time volunteer. He volunteered for:

• US Army
• Airborne School
• Special Forces Qualification Course
• 3^rd Battalion, 7^th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Davis, Panama Assignment
• El Salvador Military Advisor Assignment

Staff Sergeant Gregory Allen Fronius will be remembered into the next century and beyond. He made himself, his family & friends, US Army Special Forces, US Army, the United States of America and the El Salvador military greatly proud.

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Paperback Book—————Kindle E-Book

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Most Important Note:  My book (497+ pages) has been reduced in price from $199.97 to $54.27!  You can read the real stuff from training to combat missions.  No Hollywood fiction stuff here.

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