Posted on 09/19/2012 1:55:46 PM PDT by trailhkr1
A Kenya native enlisted in the United States Army died on Wednesday, September 5th in a helicopter crash while serving in the Afghanistan war. Thalia Ramirez Moll, 28, who is half Kenyan and half Puerto Rican, was an army pilot and was flying a Bell OH-58 Kiowa helicopter before it crashed in the Pul-e Alam district of Logar Province in Afghanistan.
(Excerpt) Read more at mwakilishi.com ...
God Bless
Flew 270 missions, 650 hours while in Afghanistan and was scheduled to be sent home a week after the crash.
what a beauty too.. oh man .. may God bless her and her loved ones
if we are going to lose the war anyway get them out now..
God bless her, and strength and peace to her family.
A Hero. And the press will ignore her death because “hope and change” is in power...
excerpts:
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....
Login to Vote!
1
2
3
4
5
82nd Combat Aviation Brigade
Search Icon RSS Icon Subscriptions Subscribe To This Unit
Story by Sgt. 1st Class Eric PahonSmall RSS IconSubscriptions Icon Subscribe To This Journalist
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Thalia Ramirez receives Air Medal Sgt. 1st Class Eric Pahon
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 Air Field, 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.
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.
I have no problem with fighting a war. I have a problem with clueless idiots who have no clue being in charge.
In the Marine Corps, I was taught if you are mad enough to fight, you need to be mad enough to kill your opponent. It is both criminal and treasonous to not provide the best leadership and the best equipment to defeat the enemy. Leading from behind is just STUPID!
The first soldier killed by an Afgani cop should have been the last.
Our own military commanders in Afghanistan have the blood of our children on their hands because they are either gutless or they have their noses so far up the dear “leader’s” rear, that they can’t see what is happening.
Either fight the war to win or get he hell out! Quit sacrificing our kids on the alter of political correctness!
Very sorry to hear this. She looks like a good person, judging by her very open face, and reminds me of one of my daughters who is a police officer. There is a seriousness about her. She looks like a dedicated American.
RIP, and prayers for her family.
One Kenyan I wish that would not have been taken away.
A good woman, a good soldier, a patriot, and another great loss for our nation. If only there were many more like her in our nation we would be blessed.
Heaven is a better place today by her presence.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.