DOD Identifies Army Casualties
The Department of Defense announced today the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
They died Sept. 5, in Logar Province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered when their aircraft crashed. They were assigned to the 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
Killed were:
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jose L. Montenegro Jr., 31, of Houston, Texas, and
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Thalia S. Ramirez, 28, of San Antonio, Texas.
For more information related to this release, media may contact the 82nd Airborne Division public affairs office at 910-309-5561.
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from 82nd Aviation Brigade:
Story by Sgt. 1st Class Eric Pahon
FORT BRAGG, N.C. — Two pilots from the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade,
82nd Airborne Division, died Sept. 5 when their OH-58D Kiowa Warrior
went down in Logar province, Afghanistan.
U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officers 2 Jose Montenegro Jr. and Thalia
Ramirez were nearing the end of a yearlong deployment in support of
Operation Enduring Freedom.
“Chief Warrant Officers 2 Montenegro and Ramirez exemplified the Army
values and warrior spirit every day of their lives,” said U.S. Army Col.
T.J. Jamison, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade commander. “They were two
courageous air cavalrymen and outstanding Americans. My deepest
condolences go out to both their families. Our hearts, thoughts and
prayers are with you.”
Montenegro, 31, of San Juan, Texas, originally joined the U.S. Army in 2001 as an enlisted infantryman.
“He loved his country and was proud to do what was asked of him, without
question, without hesitation,” said U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2
Jason England, Troop F, 1-17 Air Cavalry Regiment, 82nd CAB, 82nd
Airborne Division. “Most of us know that nothing reveals true character
like a firefight. Those of us who have had the honor and privilege to
fight alongside him know that Monte was the warrior he seemed and more.”
Montenegro, or “Monte,” as his friends called him, earned OH-58D Kiowa
Warrior aviator qualification in 2008, and attended the Warrant Officer
Basic Course in 2009, upon which he was assigned to the 82nd CAB at Fort
Bragg, N.C. This was his third deployment; Montenegro previously
deployed to Iraq in 2004 and Afghanistan in 2010.
“He would not have us mourn for him,” said England in a memorial
ceremony on Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, Sept. 7. “He died on the
field of battle with his boots on and a rifle in his hand. He has gone
to his rest, to the open arms of a loving Savior. The world is a lesser
place now that it lacks Monte’s presence. We have lost a true and
faithful friend, and our nation has lost one of its great warriors.”
Montenegro’s awards include the Air Medal with Valor 4th device, Air
Medal 2nd device, Purple Heart Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army
Commendation Medal with “V” device, Army Achievement Medal with four oak
leaf clusters, Valorous Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal, National
Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with three Campaign
Stars, Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terror
Service Medal, Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon,
Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon 3rd device, NATO Medal,
Combat Infantryman Badge, Combat Action Badge and the Army Aviator
Badge.
He is survived by his mother, Reyna Torres, and sister, Liliana Montenegro.
Ramirez, 28, originally of Nairobi, Kenya, and most recently a Raeford,
N.C., resident, joined the U.S. Army in 2003 as an enlisted water
purification specialist.
“She was a true quiet professional, and an incredible role model to so
many,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Landy Dunham, commander, Task Force
Talon, 82nd CAB, 82nd Airborne Division. “Thalia never failed to set the
perfect example of a confident and competent warrior. She was fearless,
and loved her job. She selflessly risked everything, on a regular
basis, in defense of her brothers and sisters in arms.”
She earned OH-58D Kiowa Warrior aviator qualification in 2008, and was
assigned to the 82nd CAB in 2009. This was her second deployment.
Ramirez had flown more than 270 missions and 650 hours in the course of
the one-year deployment.
“Thalia was not afraid of the enemy, and loved her job,” said U.S. Army
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Joseph Panza, Troop F, 1-17 Air Cavalry
Regiment, 82nd CAB, 82nd Airborne Division. “In June, I was in an
engagement with Thalia where our aircraft were being engaged by
insurgents with [machine guns] in multiple locations. Both aircraft took
battle damage, but we continued the fight. We took out all the
insurgents we could, then contained the enemy with our M4 [rifles] until
we could hand over the fight. That’s the kind of warrior Thalia was.”
Ramirez’s awards include the Air Medal 3rd device, the Purple Heart
Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Valor, Army Commendation Medal, Army
Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Valorous Unit Award,
Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan
Campaign Medal with three Campaign Stars, Global War on Terror
Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Army Service
Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon 2nd device, NATO Medal, the Combat
Action Badge and the Army Aviator Badge.
“As we finish up this deployment and return home, in some way remember
my friend Thalia,” said Panza at the Sept. 7 ceremony on Bagram Air
Field honoring both pilots. “Whether it’s a moment of silence, a toast,
or a prayer to whatever divine power you believe in. Just a small
gesture for someone who made a huge sacrifice doing what she believed
in.”
Ramirez leaves behind her husband, Jesse Belbeck, in the U.S., and
mother and father, Justin Ramirez and Alexandra Moll, in Kenya.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
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| Chief Warrant Officer 2 Thalia Ramirez | | |
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PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Army Col. T.J. Jamison, 82nd
Combat Aviation Brigade commander, of Broken Arrow, Okla., awards U.S.
Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Thalia Ramirez, of Nairobi, Kenya, with the
Air Medal Aug. 30, 2012, on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Ramirez, an
OH-58D Kiowa Warrior pilot assigned to Troop F, 1-17 Air Cavalry
Regiment, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, was
killed when her helicopter crashed in Logar Province, Afghanistan, Sept.
5, 2012. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Eric Pahon)
Photo: Sgt. 1st Class Eric Pahon, Courtesy
/ U.S. Army
|
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| Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jose Montenegro, Jr. |
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PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Army Col. T.J. Jamison, 82nd
Combat Aviation Brigade commander, of Broken Arrow, Okla., awards Chief
Warrant Officer 2 Jose Montenegro, Jr., of San Juan, Texas, with the Air
Medal Aug. 30, 2012, on Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Montnegro, an
OH-58D Kiowa Warrior pilot assigned to Troop F, 1-17 Air Cavalry
Regiment, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, was
killed when his helicopter crashed in Logar Province, Afghanistan, Sept.
5, 2012. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Eric Pahon)
Photo: Sgt. 1st Class Eric Pahon, Courtesy
/ U.S. Army
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