Re: Memorial Day
Today is my last day on active duty in the United States Army after 31 years and 4 months.
In memory of two of my friends:
Sergeant First Class Pedro Munoz
Intelligence sergeant assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne).
KIA 2 January 2005 during offensive combat operations in Afghanistan’s Herat province.
Pedro earned his Green Beret in 1990 and joined the 3rd Special Forces Group in time to deploy for the first Persian Gulf War. After years of deployments with the 3rd Group, Pedro joined the U.S. Army Parachute Team - the Golden Knights - in 1999.
Three years later, prompted by the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Munoz returned to Special Forces. He was assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group in 2002.
After a stirring a capella rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” sung by Lisa Burton, Lt. Col. James E. Kraft, 1st Battalion commander, spoke. He said Munoz was a dedicated Soldier, husband and father.
Soldiers and civilians openly wept when three brothers-in-arms described Munoz’s energy and enthusiasm during the "Remarks by a Friend" section of the ceremony.
“Pedro had a tremendous enthusiasm for life,” said Master Sergeant Johnny Mulford, a parachute team leader assigned to the U.S. Army Special Operations Black Daggers Parachute Team. “Wherever he went, whether it was hiking as a civilian or parachute jumping into Yankee Stadium, or providing humanitarian relief to children in Haiti he was making friends.”
Munoz served in Haiti in support of Operation Uphold Democracy, and was a member of the U.S. Army Parachute Team, the Golden Knights.
Mulford remembered hiking, while on leave, with his close friend on Sept. 11, 2001.
“We had been on the Appalachian Trail, away from civilization for a few days, when we heard about the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks,” said Mulford. “When Pedro found out what had happened, he told me he wanted to be transferred immediately from the Golden Knights back to 7th Group in order to fight terrorism.”
SFC Chad Campbell, assigned to 1st Battalion, remembered how Munoz was nicknamed “Papi.”
“Papi had a mission-first attitude,” said Campbell. “He made the best out of bad situations and was, for me, a ‘coach on life.’”
Retired Command Sergeant Major George Miller remembered that Munoz, in a unique way, always landed from a parachute jump with “One leg up above the other because he didn’t want to slam into the ground.”
Miller also said Munoz was one of the most physically fit Soldiers he had ever known.
“He enjoyed running five or six miles every day,” said Miller.
Following the "Remarks by a Friend," Kraft posthumously awarded Munoz the Bronze Star Medal with Valor device, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster and the Combat Infantryman's Badge, 2nd Award.
Munoz’s wife and daughter received the awards.
After the presentation of awards, bagpiper John Ewell played a rendition of “Amazing Grace.”
Per military custom The Last Roll Call was announced, followed by Firing of Volleys, Sounding of Taps, Benediction, and Postlude.
Munoz, born in Quebradillas, Puerto Rico, enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1986, at the age of 29. He graduated from the Special Forces Communications Course and was assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) in 1989.
In 1990, Munoz deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
Sergeant First Class Tung M. Nguyen
Senior A Detachment Communications Sergeant
Company B, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
38 from Can Tho, Vietnam; raised in Tracy, California; and resident of Raeford, North Carolina
KIA 14 November 2006 in Baghdad, Iraq,
His wife, Marcia of Raeford, North Carolina and his parents, Nguyen Van Tuan and Phan Cong Duc of Alameda, California, survive him.
Sergeant First Class Nguyen was born in Can Tho, Vietnam, became a U.S. citizen, and was raised in Tracy, Calif. He was assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C. and deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He died of a gunshot wound during combat operations in Baghdad, Iraq.
He entered military service as an Infantryman in July, 1986 with the 4th Battalion, 22d Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division (Light) at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. After three years of service, he left active duty and served with the Army Reserve in Sacramento, Calif. In 1991, he reentered active duty, and served with the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, for one year before volunteering for Special Forces training.
He began his journey to become a Special Forces Soldier in 1992 and earned the coveted Green Beret when he graduated from the course in 1993. He was assigned to 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Lewis, Washington, and served in all three combat battalions during his tenure there, first as a communications sergeant and then as an intelligence sergeant.
In 2003 he was chosen to become an instructor at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. He served in both instructor and operations positions preparing Special Forces Soldiers for the rigors of combat until February 2006 when he was assigned to 3rd Special Forces Group, where he served until his death.
His military education also includes the Special Operations Target Interdiction Course; Special Forces Advanced Reconnaissance, Target Analysis and Exploitation Techniques Course; Warrior Leaders Course; Nuclear Hazards Training Course; Basic Airborne Course; Air Assault Course; Basic and Anti-Terrorism Instructor Courses; Basic and Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Courses; and Combat Lifesaver Course.
He was the 2006 All-Army Championships Sniper Champion and the 2006 Joint Special Operations Command Championships Pistol Champion.
His awards and decorations include two Meritorious Service Medals, two Army Commendation Medals, four Army Achievement Medals, six Army Good Conduct Medals, two National Defense Service Medals, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge, and the Special Forces Tab. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Iraq Campaign Medal, and Combat Infantryman's Badge.
I remember, guys. Now you know them. They were good men.
