Story and photos by Spc. Jimmy D. Lane Jr.
1st BCT Public Affairs
FORWARD OPERATING BASE DAGGER, Tikrit, Iraq -A Soldier's life was taken from the 1st Brigade Combat Team at Forward Operating Base Dagger when a terrorist fired a rocket at the base, April 15.
Corporal Aleina Ramirez, a military policewoman and a member of 1st Brigade Combat Team, Brigade Troops Battalion personal security detachment, Task Force Liberty, was killed during the attack.
Soldiers who knew and worked directly with Ramirez have very fond memories of her personality and character.
"I met her in Kuwait, and we hit it off really fast because we had a lot in common," said Pvt. Megan Zeigler, a 1st BCT BTB information systems operator analyst. "When I think of her, I always want to think of loyalty right away.
She was a very loyal and trustworthy person. When you were around her, anything that was wrong, she would uplift you. She was always happy.
"We were the only two female (M249 Squad Automatic Weapon) gunners on this FOB. She faced danger every day. She never complained. She would go out and sit on top of the vehicle and be vulnerable. She would have done anything for anybody. She was the strongest Soldier I think I had ever met.
She makes me want to be strong and brave."
Ramirez inspired the Soldiers around her by being the best she could be.
"The thing I admired about her most was the fact that she could never complain about anything she had to get done," Pfc. Nia Rock, a 1st BCT BTB supply specialist. "As a Soldier, if she was told something on short notice, if she had been up all night and just hitting the bed, no matter when it was she was always prepared. She could never be late even if she wanted to, that was not an option.
"The littlest things made her happy, even eating something of her choice that day would make her smile. When I asked her about being on the PSD team and wanted to know if she wanted to stay on it, her reply was "if my team stays, I want to stay.""
Soldiers who worked with Ramirez only briefly were still able to see something special about her.
"I didn't know her from a hole in the wall when I first got here," said Spc. Keith Brescher, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st BCT. "She worked with me and always brought me chow when I couldn't leave.
She never complained about doing it. She was a very giving person."
As a member of the PSD team, she is remembered by 1st BCT BTB commander Lt. Col. Douglas Victor as an individual who had great potential and accomplished much during her short time in Iraq.
"As an integral part of the Desert Cat Battalion's PSD, Ramirez skillfully drove for Crew No. 3," Victor said. "In just a short time, she already executed (more than) 125 patrols on the dangerous roads of Iraq."
Before she died, Ramirez was studying for the sergeant promotion board. Her leaders were fully confident in her ability to assume the responsibilities inherent in that role.
"Ramirez was a quiet professional and fully capable to be a sergeant," Victor said.
Victor said he believes that despite the loss of Ramirez, his unit has pulled together, and remembers what kind of Soldier she was.
"While our unit is terribly saddened by the ultimate sacrifice of Cpl. Ramirez, the Desert Cats are a better unit because of her," Victor said.
A memorial ceremony was held for Ramirez on April 21, and featured a display of her boots, assigned weapon, identification tags and helmet. Chaplain (captain) Nathan Klein delivered the memorial meditation. Cpl. Ramirez" company and battalion commanders also made remarks.
The ceremony was hosted by Col. Mark McKnight, 1st BCT commander, and was also attended by Task Force Liberty commander Maj. Gen. Joseph Taluto.
Ramirez is survived by her father Wilfredo, her mother Aleina, and her brother Joel.
| Date Taken: | 05.04.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 05.04.2005 10:02 |
| Story ID: | 1745 |
| Location: | TIKRIT, IQ |
| Web Views: | 77 |
| Downloads: | 22 |
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