Palm Coast – The Palm Coast Fire Department hosted a Gold Star Dedication Ceremony on May 23, 2026, honoring the life and sacrifice of Army Sergeant James M. Treber by dedicating Fire Engine 26 in his memory.
Held at Fire Station 26, the ceremony brought together Palm Coast Fire Department personnel, Gold Star families, veterans, and community members in remembrance of Sgt. Treber’s service to the nation and ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan.
A Gold Star Family refers to the immediate family members of military personnel who lost their lives while serving in the Armed Forces. Since 2021, the Palm Coast Fire Department has continued the tradition of dedicating fire apparatus in honor of Gold Star recipients as a lasting tribute to their courage, sacrifice, and legacy.
“This dedication is about more than a fire engine or a building,” said Palm Coast Fire Chief Kyle Berryhill. “It’s about remembering a man who, in the final moments of his life, chose to protect someone else before himself. From this day forward, every firefighter who serves on Engine 26 will carry Sergeant Treber’s name with them on every call, every emergency response, and every life they help protect. His legacy now becomes part of the continuing service this department provides to the Palm Coast community.”
Sgt. James M. Treber, 24, died on June 29, 2008, following a non-combat-related accident near Khosrow-E Sofla in Afghanistan’s Kandahar Province while supporting combat operations with Company A, 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne).
A native of San Diego, California, Sgt. Treber volunteered for military service in 2005 and later earned the distinguished Green Beret before serving as a weapons sergeant with the 7th Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. During his service, he completed advanced military training including Airborne School, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) training, and the Special Forces Qualification Course.
The ceremony featured a presentation of colors by the Palm Coast Fire Department Honor Guard and Flagler Palm Coast High School Air Force JROTC FL-936, remarks from Fire Chief Kyle Berryhill, a biography presentation honoring Sgt. Treber’s life and military service, the unveiling of Engine 26, and a bagpipe presentation by the Palm Coast Fire Department Honor Guard Pipes & Drums.
Engine 26, a 2024 E-One Typhoon, serves the Seminole Woods and Quail Hollow neighborhoods. The dedication now permanently connects the apparatus and the firefighters assigned to it with the memory of Sgt. Treber and his service to the country.
The City of Palm Coast extends its gratitude to Sgt. Treber’s family, all Gold Star families, veterans, and active-duty service members for their sacrifice and continued service to the nation.
