With this being Memorial Day we wanted to honor those that have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
The members here at UGASports are the reason we do what we do and the staff wanted to put together a tribute of those that have fallen in the line of duty that some of our members knew.
This is only a small token of our appreciation for these brave individuals, and it is certainly the least we can do. Please take time out of your day to honor those in this column that are near and dear to the members here at UGASports.com
Staff Sgt Ray Rangel of San Antonio‚ Texas was born to Federico and Cynthia Rangel‚ Jr. He was taken away from his family on February 13‚ 2005‚ at the age of 29 while on a rescue mission in Balad‚ Iraq. Staff Sgt Ray died doing what he loved to do – helping others when they were in need.
Staff Sgt Rangel attended South San Antonio High School where he played defensive back on the football team and was known as ‘Crazy Ray.’ That name fit his image perfectly because he was always playing jokes and he got along with everyone. Even as a teenager‚ Ray had been a selfless leader. He paid for his two younger sisters’ school clothes one year when his parents hit hard times. For a young man his age to think of others made him even more special.
Ray graduated in 1994 and enlisted in the Air Force. He got married and had four children‚ and settled in Abilene where bought a house. He was deployed for the last time to Iraq in late September 2004‚ having to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas apart from his family for the very first time in his life. This was very difficult‚ because whenever he was deployed he always made it back for the holidays.
Ray served as a firefighter for over nine years‚ serving last with the 7th Civil Engineer Squadron. He attended the Department of Defense Lewis F. Garland Fire Academy at Goodfellow AFB‚ Texas. His advanced training included: Airport Crash Firefighting‚ Silent War (Infectious Diseases)‚ Nuclear‚ Biological and Chemical Domestic Preparedness (Awareness Level)‚ Emergency Response to Terrorism‚ Emergency Response to Domestic Biological Incidents Operations Level (WMD)‚ Terrorism Response/Emergency Care‚ and Critical Incident Stress Management (Basic). His career took him to Lackland AFB‚ Texas; Goodfellow AFB‚ Texas; Spangdahlem AFB‚ Germany; Whiteman AFB‚ Missouri; Clear AFB‚ Alaska; and Dyess AFB‚ Texas. His awards and decorations include: the AF Training Ribbon‚ Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (Rifle)‚USAF NCO PME Graduate Ribbon‚ AF Longevity Service (1 device)‚ AF Overseas Ribbon Long‚ AF Overseas Ribbon Short‚ Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal‚ Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1 device)‚ National Defense Service Medal (1 device)‚ AF Good Conduct Medal (3 devices)‚ AF Outstanding Unit Award (2 devices)‚ and Air Force Achievement Medal (2 devices ). Ray also has two awards named in his honor: Staff Sgt Ray Rangel Award and the Ray Rangel Noncommissioned Officer Award which is given to fellow airmen in the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing that epitomize the selfless courage that he displayed. An American Legion was also renamed to Ray Rangel Post 399.
Even though he has been gone for 5 years‚ Staff Sgt. Ray Rangel is greatly missed and remembered as the firefighter who risked his own life for the sake of helping others.
Remembered by MACGATA, TSgt Jeremy McLendon
US Army Sgt. 1st Class Charles R Sikes served 23 years and tours in WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Died from agent orange cancer he was exposed to while serving. Charles Sikes was my uncle. An inspiration and role model.
Remembered by CDCDavid, David Sikes
My Fallen Soldier Tribute goes out to my friend, my brother Staff Sgt Marion Flint, Jr.
Flint was KIA on May 15th, 2006, during Operation Iraqi Freedom for the United States Army
Flint and I were good friends. Bug (Flint's nickname) was a good dude. He was a people person and a natural born leader. He was an Athens native. Graduated from Clarke Central HS in 1995.
Remembered by VaDawg76, Dedrick Colbert
Cpl. Blaney was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade, Camp Ederle, Italy; died Dec. 12, 2007 at Forward Operating Base Curry, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.
Blaney grew up in Matthews, N.C., and graduated from Butler High School in 2002. After enlisting, he lived the past five-plus years in Italy at Camp Ederle when not deployed. He was five months into his second tour in Afghanistan after the Iraq deployment and recently had signed re-enlistment papers for two more years.
Remembered by Obi Won Richtobi, Chris Knowlton
U.S. Army
Korean War
KIA at the age of 18
The uncle I never met.
Remembered by Mhick007, Michael Hickox
Crew of the B-52H that crashed near Guam on 21 July, 2008
Aircraft Commander - Maj Christopher "Fireball" Cooper
Co-Pilot - Capt Michael "Bull" Dodson
Radar Navigator - Maj Brent "B-Dub" Williams
Navigator - 1Lt Joshua "Shaman" Shepherd
Electronic Warfare Officer - 1Lt Robert 'Fozzie" Gerren
Flight Surgeon - Col George Martin
Remembered by Moosefish
That's my daughter with him in the picture. And his wife is my best friend. Our families had known each other for years. He was a great husband and father. He is always missed.
Remembered by Aimee Wisyanski
