Photo By 1st Sgt. Justin A. Naylor | Soldiers with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team (Advise and Assist), 1st Cavalry Division,...... read more read more
Subscribe
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq – Soldiers and leaders from 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, “Black Jack,” 1st Cavalry Division, U.S. Division-North, gathered to mourn the loss of Sgt. Estevan Altamirano at a memorial service held in his honor at Contingency Operating Base Speicher, Iraq, Sept. 20.
Altamirano died Sept. 18 from injuries sustained from an accident.
Altamirano joined the Army in November of 2000 as an Abrams tank crewman and after completing initial training was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Hood, Texas. In 2002, he was reassigned to Company A, 2nd Bn., 12th Cav. Regt., where he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During that time, he was handpicked to be part of the battalion commander’s personal security detail team.
In 2005, Company A, 2nd Bn., 12th Cav. Regt., was reorganized as Company D, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment. Altamirano remained with the company and deployed to Iraq in 2006 and again in 2009, where he served as a tank commander, gunner and assistant tank commander. Altamirano deployed again in 2011 in support of Operation New Dawn.
“I have known Sgt. Estevan Altamirano for 9 years, and when he was around, it was never a dull moment,” said Staff Sgt. Joel Ramirez, a friend of Altamirano. “He was always upbeat about any situation he was in. He was also very good at making other people feel better about their situation.
“He was a humble, well-hearted individual, trying to make sure things were alright with you,” he continued. “All you had to do was ask and he was there.”
“He was always the kind of guy you could walk up to for anything, whether it was work related or personal, or if you just wanted to have some company,” said Spc. Larry Griffin, a soldier that served with Altamirano for six years.
“[He] was an outstanding tanker and outstanding leader,” said Griffin. “He took his job seriously, and he always made sure it was done to standard. He never let anyone slack, and he was always right there alongside us getting his hands dirty.
“[He] was also a husband and a father,” Griffin continued. “He was always talking about his wife and kids, and how smart his kids are, and how supportive they all were of what their dad did. He always placed his family first.”
| Date Taken: | 09.21.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 09.29.2011 04:48 |
| Story ID: | 77747 |
| Location: | CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE SPEICHER, IQ |
| Web Views: | 87 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, ‘Black Jack’ troopers mourn loss of fallen comrade, by 1SG Justin A. Naylor, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT