PFC Joel Ramirez, 22, of Waxahachie was killed in action April 16, 2011, in Minroz, Afghanistan. He was born July 12, 1988, in Falls Rivers Mill, Calif., to Feliciano (Chano) Ramirez and Irma Ramirez.
Joel is survived by his parents, Chano and Irma Ramirez; sisters, Christian Ramirez and Maria Ramirez; and brother, Daniel Ramirez, all from Waxahachie; 2-year-old daughter, Kaylee Marie Ramirez of Plano; paternal grandmother, Maria Ramirez of Mexico; various aunts, uncles and cousins. Joel was preceded in death by older sister, Alejandra Ramirez; paternal grandfather, Joel Ramirez; and maternal grandparents, Raquel Alvarez, and Trinidad Alvarez.
Joel was a 2007 Waxahachie High School graduate, where he played varsity soccer. He will be forever remembered as a loving son, brother and father. Joel proudly served his country as an infantryman in the 10th Infantry Division (Mountain), U.S. Army. Joel had been deployed to Afghanistan for one month at the time of his death.
The family wishes to convey their heartfelt thanks to the Waxahachie community for all their love and support.
Services to celebrate his life with full military honors will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday, May 1, 2011, at the Waxahachie Civic Center, 1950 N. IH-35E. Interment will be held in Tecomatlan, Jalisco, Mexico.
A memorial fund has been established in his honor at Wells Fargo Bank. Donations may be made to the "Joel Ramirez Memorial Fund."
www.waynebozefuneralhome.com
From The Dallas Morning News dallasnews.com 05/22/11:
Pfc. Joel A. Ramirez, Texan who volunteered to serve on the front lines, dies in Afghanistan
By JOE SIMNACHER Staff Writer
Published: 22 April 2011 10:46 PM
Updated: 22 April 2011 10:46 PM
Army Pfc. Joel A. Ramirez, a 2007 graduate of Waxahachie High School, wanted to do something with his life.
So, 18 months ago he joined the Army. He was offered a variety of positions, but instead he volunteered to be on the front lines. Last month, he was deployed to Afghanistan.
Pfc. Ramirez, 22, and two other soldiers died April 16 when their unit was attacked with an improvised explosive device in Nimroz province in Afghanistan.
Spc. Paul J. Atim, 27, of Green Bay, Wis., and Spc. Charles J. Wren, 25, a Texan who lived much of his life in Hondo, also died in the attack.
Services for Pfc. Ramirez will be at the Waxahachie Civic Center after his remains are returned home from Dover Air Force Base in Delaware sometime next week.
Pfc. Ramirez will be buried in Tecomatlán, Mexico.
"He had a lot of friends," said his brother, Daniel Ramirez of Waxahachie. "He put other people's needs before his own."
Pfc. Ramirez enjoyed serving in the Army, his brother said.
"He just wanted to make his life worth something," his brother said. "He didn't just want to be somebody … who went through life without doing anything with his life."
Pfc. Ramirez was born in Fall River Mills, Calif., and lived in Turlock, Calif., for the first 12 years of his life.
He and his family later moved to Tecomatlán, Mexico, where they lived for eight months to care for his grandfather, who was dying. The family moved to Waxahachie in December 2001.
In addition to his brother, Pfc. Ramirez is survived by his parents, Feliciano "Chano" and Irma Ramirez of Waxahachie; two sisters, Maria Ramirez and Christie Ramirez, both of Waxahachie; a daughter, Kaylee Marie Ramirez of Plano; and his grandmother, Maria Ramirez of Tecomatlán.
Memorials to help cover transportation to Mexico and burial expenses may be made to the Joel Ramirez Memorial Fund at any Wells Fargo bank.
We Were Soldiers Once, And Young: Joel Ramirez
By RICK CRABB Ellis County Veterans Appreciation Committee
Posted Nov 2, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Nov 2, 2013 at 10:55 AM
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following feature series profiles Ellis County veterans killed in the line of service to their country during the 20th century.
The features, researched and written by Perry Giles and Rick Crabb, are read in first-person voice by area students during the annual Ellis County Veterans Appreciation Day Ceremony as a special way to remember and pay tribute to our friends, classmates and neighbors who gave their lives for our freedom.
"We Were Soldiers Once and Young" will appear every Sunday in the Daily Light through Veterans Day.
We stand on the backs of their sacrifice. Their history is our tradition, as long as there are Americans to remember...
I had two weeks of leave in February before deploying, and I spent much of it with Daniel, who was now attending Texas State University in San Marcos.
Our days together were just like old times. Although I was still thinking of a career in the military, I told him that I'd like to get out and go back to school with him.
The last day before I left, Mary, Christy and I went to the mall to visit with Kaylee. I didn't have a bad feeling or anything like that, but during the ride up there I asked them to help me write a letter to my daughter in case something did.
Before we left I gave her my dog tags and the letter for her to read when she gets older.
I left all of my civilian clothes and belongings with my mother, instructing her to give all of my things to Daniel.
I thought it was important to say my goodbyes and tie up all the loose ends.
The next morning my dad took me to the airport. Right before I walked through the security gate, I hugged him one more time and gave him my coat as a farewell gift.
It had been good to see home and friends, but I was a soldier now, and I was going to Afghanistan. It was March of 2011.
The first week of April, we did what is called a "relief in place" with a battalion from the 101st Airborne Division in the Nimroz Province of Afghanistan.
This was at the very southern end of the country near Pakistan. I never forgot that most of the Afghani people were just like us -- they loved their families and wanted to feel safe.
I knew what we were doing there was important, and I never missed a chance to try and get a smile from one of the many kids we saw.
Soon after arriving in country, we had a "hearts and minds" operation, to show our Afghan neighbors we were there to help them, protect them and chase the Taliban out of our area of operations.
There was a lot of laughter and joking in our hooch, but that all ended when we were outside the HESCO barriers -- the blast walls surrounding our compound.
We were trained for patrol, and from the minute we suited up, it was all business. As we left the gate, we knew how dangerous it would be.
There are two kinds of machine guns in a Weapons Platoon, the Squad Automatic Weapon and the larger, more powerful M240.
Being from Texas, I had to have the biggest and the best, so I drew the M240. I figured since we were going to spend so much time together, my gun would need a name, and since it was the sexiest gun I'd ever seen, I called her Brittney Spears.
On our very first time out, our leadership team walked right into an ambush.
I saw what was happening and Brittney Spears and I laid down suppressive fire until they could clear the area.
My buddy Matthew was the radio operator with the command element and he made a real big deal about it.
It was one of those very scary situations that you laugh about later. I told him never to worry with me and Brittney Spears watching out for him.
I remembered promising Maureen that I would get Matthew home safely to her.
I kept that promise.
Right after that first operation, we were joined by our Platoon Leader, 1st Lieutenant McGrath, who had missed deploying with us because he had just completed the Ranger Course.
Jim and I were all over him, asking about what it was like and what we could do to get ready for it.
He was encouraging, but more interested in what Afghanistan was like and what we were facing.
I remember Sergeant Newton, who was a veteran of the fighting in Iraq, telling him, "This is a different fight."
Very few of us had ever been in combat before, and we could see that those who had were concerned. Since this had been our first real operation since arriving, it took a lot out of all of us, and we were surprised to learn that 1st Platoon was going back out less than 48 hours later.
On April 16, a group suspected to be Taliban were reported to be in our area and our higher headquarters wanted them pushed out.
We loaded back up and headed for the gate. I was pumped to be going back out on our second patrol.
We had explosive ordnance disposal technicians with us, but we were moving too fast for them to properly clear the path in front of us. We made contact with the enemy almost immediately and began working together like we had done this all our lives.
We found our first IED and thought that would pretty much be the end of our day.
We got to a wall and set up to secure the area and then began taking fire from what was reported to be a 12.7mm heavy machine gun. This is a bad weapon to be facing because it shoots a lot bigger bullet than Brittney Spears!
The lieutenant had us push out into a poppy field to flank the enemy and get between them and the village.
I was impressed that he called it our village, and that we were there to protect them.
The weapons section found a pile of bricks to use for cover. Cpl. Chaz Wren and Sgt. Paul Atim were with me.
The three of us really were the A team, and our platoon knew everything would be OK as long as we were watching over them.
It's crazy to be in a dangerous situation like that, but we were in our element. The adrenalin was pumping, the sun was shining, and we were taking the fight to the enemy.
Before long, the shooting stopped and it got very quiet.
Matthew, never able to sit still for very long, ran over to our position. Everyone was well-hidden, but with his radio antenna waving in the air, it was easy to see when he was on the move.
He was obviously trying to make a good impression on our new lieutenant and wanted to bum some dip off of me for him.
We talked for a while, and I gave him my can. He was only gone a couple of minutes and came back with it.
I remember I was smiling at him when the IED, hidden under the pile of bricks we were set up behind, exploded.
I was placed on a helicopter and the last thing I heard was Matthew reciting the 23rd Psalm, his hand resting lightly over my heart. ... It was April 16, 2011, a Saturday and I was 22 years old.
I was flown back to MidWay Airport and met there by my family and what looked like most of the fire trucks in Ellis County.
The road was lined with people all the way to Waxahachie holding signs and flags. I had told my dad that if anything happened to me, I wanted to be buried in the family cemetery in Mexico.
It took several days for the U.S. and Mexican governments to work the arrangements out, as I was the first U.S. serviceman killed in the Global War on Terrorism to be transported outside the United States.
The same plane that brought me home to Waxahachie took me to Tecomatlan, Mexico.
Because of my service, my family's adopted home is safe, my duty is complete, and I have been relieved.
I rest now with my ancestors.
Remember us, for we were soldiers once and young.
Perry Giles serves as co-chair of the Ellis County Veterans Appreciation Day Committee. The 2013 countywide tribute to veterans is scheduled for 10 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 9, at the Waxahachie Civic Center followed by a wreath presentation at the Ellis County Veterans Memorial located in front of the center.
Ellis County Dedicates Memorial For Fallen Iraq And Afghanistan Vets
By Steve Pickett
March 22, 2012 at 6:07 pm
WAXAHACHIE (CBSDFW.COM) – At first glance, the golden stone wall that sits between a trio of flag poles in front of Life School Red Oak Secondary Campus offers little to garner attention. But with a closer view, an observer would find the name of Joel Ramirez, his date of birth and date of death, attached to the wall.
"It may be made of brick and stone, but at the heart of this memorial is honor and respect," Waxahachie native Greg Compton commented during the formal dedication of Ellis County's Veterans Memorial Wall.
The wall recognizes veterans of the 9/11 era killed in combat in Iraq or Afghanistan. Joel Ramirez' name is the first attached to the wall. The Waxahachie native was killed during a tour of duty in Afghanistan in April of last year.
"For me, my son is still alive," Ramirez' father Feliciano Ramirez said. The family cut a yellow ribbon, listened to patriotic speeches, and talked about the oldest son and brother, now known as the first person dedicated to the Ellis County memorial. "I thank everyone for this," Ramirez said.
The fallen veteran's brother also wanted to show appreciation to the community for the acknowledgment of Joel's service and sacrifice. "He was always a caring person. He always put others in front of him," brother Daniel Ramirez said.
Six other Ellis County residents have lost their lives in battle in the past decade. Their names will also be added to the memorial wall. The memorial can be found at 3295 U.S. North Hwy. 77 in Waxahachie.
Joel is survived by his parents, Chano and Irma Ramirez; sisters, Christian Ramirez and Maria Ramirez; and brother, Daniel Ramirez, all from Waxahachie; 2-year-old daughter, Kaylee Marie Ramirez of Plano; paternal grandmother, Maria Ramirez of Mexico; various aunts, uncles and cousins. Joel was preceded in death by older sister, Alejandra Ramirez; paternal grandfather, Joel Ramirez; and maternal grandparents, Raquel Alvarez, and Trinidad Alvarez.
Joel was a 2007 Waxahachie High School graduate, where he played varsity soccer. He will be forever remembered as a loving son, brother and father. Joel proudly served his country as an infantryman in the 10th Infantry Division (Mountain), U.S. Army. Joel had been deployed to Afghanistan for one month at the time of his death.
The family wishes to convey their heartfelt thanks to the Waxahachie community for all their love and support.
Services to celebrate his life with full military honors will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday, May 1, 2011, at the Waxahachie Civic Center, 1950 N. IH-35E. Interment will be held in Tecomatlan, Jalisco, Mexico.
A memorial fund has been established in his honor at Wells Fargo Bank. Donations may be made to the "Joel Ramirez Memorial Fund."
www.waynebozefuneralhome.com
From The Dallas Morning News dallasnews.com 05/22/11:
Pfc. Joel A. Ramirez, Texan who volunteered to serve on the front lines, dies in Afghanistan
By JOE SIMNACHER Staff Writer
Published: 22 April 2011 10:46 PM
Updated: 22 April 2011 10:46 PM
Army Pfc. Joel A. Ramirez, a 2007 graduate of Waxahachie High School, wanted to do something with his life.
So, 18 months ago he joined the Army. He was offered a variety of positions, but instead he volunteered to be on the front lines. Last month, he was deployed to Afghanistan.
Pfc. Ramirez, 22, and two other soldiers died April 16 when their unit was attacked with an improvised explosive device in Nimroz province in Afghanistan.
Spc. Paul J. Atim, 27, of Green Bay, Wis., and Spc. Charles J. Wren, 25, a Texan who lived much of his life in Hondo, also died in the attack.
Services for Pfc. Ramirez will be at the Waxahachie Civic Center after his remains are returned home from Dover Air Force Base in Delaware sometime next week.
Pfc. Ramirez will be buried in Tecomatlán, Mexico.
"He had a lot of friends," said his brother, Daniel Ramirez of Waxahachie. "He put other people's needs before his own."
Pfc. Ramirez enjoyed serving in the Army, his brother said.
"He just wanted to make his life worth something," his brother said. "He didn't just want to be somebody … who went through life without doing anything with his life."
Pfc. Ramirez was born in Fall River Mills, Calif., and lived in Turlock, Calif., for the first 12 years of his life.
He and his family later moved to Tecomatlán, Mexico, where they lived for eight months to care for his grandfather, who was dying. The family moved to Waxahachie in December 2001.
In addition to his brother, Pfc. Ramirez is survived by his parents, Feliciano "Chano" and Irma Ramirez of Waxahachie; two sisters, Maria Ramirez and Christie Ramirez, both of Waxahachie; a daughter, Kaylee Marie Ramirez of Plano; and his grandmother, Maria Ramirez of Tecomatlán.
Memorials to help cover transportation to Mexico and burial expenses may be made to the Joel Ramirez Memorial Fund at any Wells Fargo bank.
We Were Soldiers Once, And Young: Joel Ramirez
By RICK CRABB Ellis County Veterans Appreciation Committee
Posted Nov 2, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Nov 2, 2013 at 10:55 AM
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following feature series profiles Ellis County veterans killed in the line of service to their country during the 20th century.
The features, researched and written by Perry Giles and Rick Crabb, are read in first-person voice by area students during the annual Ellis County Veterans Appreciation Day Ceremony as a special way to remember and pay tribute to our friends, classmates and neighbors who gave their lives for our freedom.
"We Were Soldiers Once and Young" will appear every Sunday in the Daily Light through Veterans Day.
We stand on the backs of their sacrifice. Their history is our tradition, as long as there are Americans to remember...
I had two weeks of leave in February before deploying, and I spent much of it with Daniel, who was now attending Texas State University in San Marcos.
Our days together were just like old times. Although I was still thinking of a career in the military, I told him that I'd like to get out and go back to school with him.
The last day before I left, Mary, Christy and I went to the mall to visit with Kaylee. I didn't have a bad feeling or anything like that, but during the ride up there I asked them to help me write a letter to my daughter in case something did.
Before we left I gave her my dog tags and the letter for her to read when she gets older.
I left all of my civilian clothes and belongings with my mother, instructing her to give all of my things to Daniel.
I thought it was important to say my goodbyes and tie up all the loose ends.
The next morning my dad took me to the airport. Right before I walked through the security gate, I hugged him one more time and gave him my coat as a farewell gift.
It had been good to see home and friends, but I was a soldier now, and I was going to Afghanistan. It was March of 2011.
The first week of April, we did what is called a "relief in place" with a battalion from the 101st Airborne Division in the Nimroz Province of Afghanistan.
This was at the very southern end of the country near Pakistan. I never forgot that most of the Afghani people were just like us -- they loved their families and wanted to feel safe.
I knew what we were doing there was important, and I never missed a chance to try and get a smile from one of the many kids we saw.
Soon after arriving in country, we had a "hearts and minds" operation, to show our Afghan neighbors we were there to help them, protect them and chase the Taliban out of our area of operations.
There was a lot of laughter and joking in our hooch, but that all ended when we were outside the HESCO barriers -- the blast walls surrounding our compound.
We were trained for patrol, and from the minute we suited up, it was all business. As we left the gate, we knew how dangerous it would be.
There are two kinds of machine guns in a Weapons Platoon, the Squad Automatic Weapon and the larger, more powerful M240.
Being from Texas, I had to have the biggest and the best, so I drew the M240. I figured since we were going to spend so much time together, my gun would need a name, and since it was the sexiest gun I'd ever seen, I called her Brittney Spears.
On our very first time out, our leadership team walked right into an ambush.
I saw what was happening and Brittney Spears and I laid down suppressive fire until they could clear the area.
My buddy Matthew was the radio operator with the command element and he made a real big deal about it.
It was one of those very scary situations that you laugh about later. I told him never to worry with me and Brittney Spears watching out for him.
I remembered promising Maureen that I would get Matthew home safely to her.
I kept that promise.
Right after that first operation, we were joined by our Platoon Leader, 1st Lieutenant McGrath, who had missed deploying with us because he had just completed the Ranger Course.
Jim and I were all over him, asking about what it was like and what we could do to get ready for it.
He was encouraging, but more interested in what Afghanistan was like and what we were facing.
I remember Sergeant Newton, who was a veteran of the fighting in Iraq, telling him, "This is a different fight."
Very few of us had ever been in combat before, and we could see that those who had were concerned. Since this had been our first real operation since arriving, it took a lot out of all of us, and we were surprised to learn that 1st Platoon was going back out less than 48 hours later.
On April 16, a group suspected to be Taliban were reported to be in our area and our higher headquarters wanted them pushed out.
We loaded back up and headed for the gate. I was pumped to be going back out on our second patrol.
We had explosive ordnance disposal technicians with us, but we were moving too fast for them to properly clear the path in front of us. We made contact with the enemy almost immediately and began working together like we had done this all our lives.
We found our first IED and thought that would pretty much be the end of our day.
We got to a wall and set up to secure the area and then began taking fire from what was reported to be a 12.7mm heavy machine gun. This is a bad weapon to be facing because it shoots a lot bigger bullet than Brittney Spears!
The lieutenant had us push out into a poppy field to flank the enemy and get between them and the village.
I was impressed that he called it our village, and that we were there to protect them.
The weapons section found a pile of bricks to use for cover. Cpl. Chaz Wren and Sgt. Paul Atim were with me.
The three of us really were the A team, and our platoon knew everything would be OK as long as we were watching over them.
It's crazy to be in a dangerous situation like that, but we were in our element. The adrenalin was pumping, the sun was shining, and we were taking the fight to the enemy.
Before long, the shooting stopped and it got very quiet.
Matthew, never able to sit still for very long, ran over to our position. Everyone was well-hidden, but with his radio antenna waving in the air, it was easy to see when he was on the move.
He was obviously trying to make a good impression on our new lieutenant and wanted to bum some dip off of me for him.
We talked for a while, and I gave him my can. He was only gone a couple of minutes and came back with it.
I remember I was smiling at him when the IED, hidden under the pile of bricks we were set up behind, exploded.
I was placed on a helicopter and the last thing I heard was Matthew reciting the 23rd Psalm, his hand resting lightly over my heart. ... It was April 16, 2011, a Saturday and I was 22 years old.
I was flown back to MidWay Airport and met there by my family and what looked like most of the fire trucks in Ellis County.
The road was lined with people all the way to Waxahachie holding signs and flags. I had told my dad that if anything happened to me, I wanted to be buried in the family cemetery in Mexico.
It took several days for the U.S. and Mexican governments to work the arrangements out, as I was the first U.S. serviceman killed in the Global War on Terrorism to be transported outside the United States.
The same plane that brought me home to Waxahachie took me to Tecomatlan, Mexico.
Because of my service, my family's adopted home is safe, my duty is complete, and I have been relieved.
I rest now with my ancestors.
Remember us, for we were soldiers once and young.
Perry Giles serves as co-chair of the Ellis County Veterans Appreciation Day Committee. The 2013 countywide tribute to veterans is scheduled for 10 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 9, at the Waxahachie Civic Center followed by a wreath presentation at the Ellis County Veterans Memorial located in front of the center.
Ellis County Dedicates Memorial For Fallen Iraq And Afghanistan Vets
By Steve Pickett
March 22, 2012 at 6:07 pm
WAXAHACHIE (CBSDFW.COM) – At first glance, the golden stone wall that sits between a trio of flag poles in front of Life School Red Oak Secondary Campus offers little to garner attention. But with a closer view, an observer would find the name of Joel Ramirez, his date of birth and date of death, attached to the wall.
"It may be made of brick and stone, but at the heart of this memorial is honor and respect," Waxahachie native Greg Compton commented during the formal dedication of Ellis County's Veterans Memorial Wall.
The wall recognizes veterans of the 9/11 era killed in combat in Iraq or Afghanistan. Joel Ramirez' name is the first attached to the wall. The Waxahachie native was killed during a tour of duty in Afghanistan in April of last year.
"For me, my son is still alive," Ramirez' father Feliciano Ramirez said. The family cut a yellow ribbon, listened to patriotic speeches, and talked about the oldest son and brother, now known as the first person dedicated to the Ellis County memorial. "I thank everyone for this," Ramirez said.
The fallen veteran's brother also wanted to show appreciation to the community for the acknowledgment of Joel's service and sacrifice. "He was always a caring person. He always put others in front of him," brother Daniel Ramirez said.
Six other Ellis County residents have lost their lives in battle in the past decade. Their names will also be added to the memorial wall. The memorial can be found at 3295 U.S. North Hwy. 77 in Waxahachie.
PFC Joel Ramirez, 22, of Waxahachie was killed in action April 16, 2011, in Minroz, Afghanistan. He was born July 12, 1988, in Falls Rivers Mill, Calif., to Feliciano (Chano) Ramirez and Irma Ramirez.
Joel is survived by his parents, Chano and Irma Ramirez; sisters, Christian Ramirez and Maria Ramirez; and brother, Daniel Ramirez, all from Waxahachie; 2-year-old daughter, Kaylee Marie Ramirez of Plano; paternal grandmother, Maria Ramirez of Mexico; various aunts, uncles and cousins. Joel was preceded in death by older sister, Alejandra Ramirez; paternal grandfather, Joel Ramirez; and maternal grandparents, Raquel Alvarez, and Trinidad Alvarez.
Joel was a 2007 Waxahachie High School graduate, where he played varsity soccer. He will be forever remembered as a loving son, brother and father. Joel proudly served his country as an infantryman in the 10th Infantry Division (Mountain), U.S. Army. Joel had been deployed to Afghanistan for one month at the time of his death.
The family wishes to convey their heartfelt thanks to the Waxahachie community for all their love and support.
Services to celebrate his life with full military honors will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday, May 1, 2011, at the Waxahachie Civic Center, 1950 N. IH-35E. Interment will be held in Tecomatlan, Jalisco, Mexico.
A memorial fund has been established in his honor at Wells Fargo Bank. Donations may be made to the "Joel Ramirez Memorial Fund."
www.waynebozefuneralhome.com
From The Dallas Morning News dallasnews.com 05/22/11:
Pfc. Joel A. Ramirez, Texan who volunteered to serve on the front lines, dies in Afghanistan
By JOE SIMNACHER Staff Writer
Published: 22 April 2011 10:46 PM
Updated: 22 April 2011 10:46 PM
Army Pfc. Joel A. Ramirez, a 2007 graduate of Waxahachie High School, wanted to do something with his life.
So, 18 months ago he joined the Army. He was offered a variety of positions, but instead he volunteered to be on the front lines. Last month, he was deployed to Afghanistan.
Pfc. Ramirez, 22, and two other soldiers died April 16 when their unit was attacked with an improvised explosive device in Nimroz province in Afghanistan.
Spc. Paul J. Atim, 27, of Green Bay, Wis., and Spc. Charles J. Wren, 25, a Texan who lived much of his life in Hondo, also died in the attack.
Services for Pfc. Ramirez will be at the Waxahachie Civic Center after his remains are returned home from Dover Air Force Base in Delaware sometime next week.
Pfc. Ramirez will be buried in Tecomatlán, Mexico.
"He had a lot of friends," said his brother, Daniel Ramirez of Waxahachie. "He put other people's needs before his own."
Pfc. Ramirez enjoyed serving in the Army, his brother said.
"He just wanted to make his life worth something," his brother said. "He didn't just want to be somebody … who went through life without doing anything with his life."
Pfc. Ramirez was born in Fall River Mills, Calif., and lived in Turlock, Calif., for the first 12 years of his life.
He and his family later moved to Tecomatlán, Mexico, where they lived for eight months to care for his grandfather, who was dying. The family moved to Waxahachie in December 2001.
In addition to his brother, Pfc. Ramirez is survived by his parents, Feliciano "Chano" and Irma Ramirez of Waxahachie; two sisters, Maria Ramirez and Christie Ramirez, both of Waxahachie; a daughter, Kaylee Marie Ramirez of Plano; and his grandmother, Maria Ramirez of Tecomatlán.
Memorials to help cover transportation to Mexico and burial expenses may be made to the Joel Ramirez Memorial Fund at any Wells Fargo bank.
We Were Soldiers Once, And Young: Joel Ramirez
By RICK CRABB Ellis County Veterans Appreciation Committee
Posted Nov 2, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Nov 2, 2013 at 10:55 AM
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following feature series profiles Ellis County veterans killed in the line of service to their country during the 20th century.
The features, researched and written by Perry Giles and Rick Crabb, are read in first-person voice by area students during the annual Ellis County Veterans Appreciation Day Ceremony as a special way to remember and pay tribute to our friends, classmates and neighbors who gave their lives for our freedom.
"We Were Soldiers Once and Young" will appear every Sunday in the Daily Light through Veterans Day.
We stand on the backs of their sacrifice. Their history is our tradition, as long as there are Americans to remember...
I had two weeks of leave in February before deploying, and I spent much of it with Daniel, who was now attending Texas State University in San Marcos.
Our days together were just like old times. Although I was still thinking of a career in the military, I told him that I'd like to get out and go back to school with him.
The last day before I left, Mary, Christy and I went to the mall to visit with Kaylee. I didn't have a bad feeling or anything like that, but during the ride up there I asked them to help me write a letter to my daughter in case something did.
Before we left I gave her my dog tags and the letter for her to read when she gets older.
I left all of my civilian clothes and belongings with my mother, instructing her to give all of my things to Daniel.
I thought it was important to say my goodbyes and tie up all the loose ends.
The next morning my dad took me to the airport. Right before I walked through the security gate, I hugged him one more time and gave him my coat as a farewell gift.
It had been good to see home and friends, but I was a soldier now, and I was going to Afghanistan. It was March of 2011.
The first week of April, we did what is called a "relief in place" with a battalion from the 101st Airborne Division in the Nimroz Province of Afghanistan.
This was at the very southern end of the country near Pakistan. I never forgot that most of the Afghani people were just like us -- they loved their families and wanted to feel safe.
I knew what we were doing there was important, and I never missed a chance to try and get a smile from one of the many kids we saw.
Soon after arriving in country, we had a "hearts and minds" operation, to show our Afghan neighbors we were there to help them, protect them and chase the Taliban out of our area of operations.
There was a lot of laughter and joking in our hooch, but that all ended when we were outside the HESCO barriers -- the blast walls surrounding our compound.
We were trained for patrol, and from the minute we suited up, it was all business. As we left the gate, we knew how dangerous it would be.
There are two kinds of machine guns in a Weapons Platoon, the Squad Automatic Weapon and the larger, more powerful M240.
Being from Texas, I had to have the biggest and the best, so I drew the M240. I figured since we were going to spend so much time together, my gun would need a name, and since it was the sexiest gun I'd ever seen, I called her Brittney Spears.
On our very first time out, our leadership team walked right into an ambush.
I saw what was happening and Brittney Spears and I laid down suppressive fire until they could clear the area.
My buddy Matthew was the radio operator with the command element and he made a real big deal about it.
It was one of those very scary situations that you laugh about later. I told him never to worry with me and Brittney Spears watching out for him.
I remembered promising Maureen that I would get Matthew home safely to her.
I kept that promise.
Right after that first operation, we were joined by our Platoon Leader, 1st Lieutenant McGrath, who had missed deploying with us because he had just completed the Ranger Course.
Jim and I were all over him, asking about what it was like and what we could do to get ready for it.
He was encouraging, but more interested in what Afghanistan was like and what we were facing.
I remember Sergeant Newton, who was a veteran of the fighting in Iraq, telling him, "This is a different fight."
Very few of us had ever been in combat before, and we could see that those who had were concerned. Since this had been our first real operation since arriving, it took a lot out of all of us, and we were surprised to learn that 1st Platoon was going back out less than 48 hours later.
On April 16, a group suspected to be Taliban were reported to be in our area and our higher headquarters wanted them pushed out.
We loaded back up and headed for the gate. I was pumped to be going back out on our second patrol.
We had explosive ordnance disposal technicians with us, but we were moving too fast for them to properly clear the path in front of us. We made contact with the enemy almost immediately and began working together like we had done this all our lives.
We found our first IED and thought that would pretty much be the end of our day.
We got to a wall and set up to secure the area and then began taking fire from what was reported to be a 12.7mm heavy machine gun. This is a bad weapon to be facing because it shoots a lot bigger bullet than Brittney Spears!
The lieutenant had us push out into a poppy field to flank the enemy and get between them and the village.
I was impressed that he called it our village, and that we were there to protect them.
The weapons section found a pile of bricks to use for cover. Cpl. Chaz Wren and Sgt. Paul Atim were with me.
The three of us really were the A team, and our platoon knew everything would be OK as long as we were watching over them.
It's crazy to be in a dangerous situation like that, but we were in our element. The adrenalin was pumping, the sun was shining, and we were taking the fight to the enemy.
Before long, the shooting stopped and it got very quiet.
Matthew, never able to sit still for very long, ran over to our position. Everyone was well-hidden, but with his radio antenna waving in the air, it was easy to see when he was on the move.
He was obviously trying to make a good impression on our new lieutenant and wanted to bum some dip off of me for him.
We talked for a while, and I gave him my can. He was only gone a couple of minutes and came back with it.
I remember I was smiling at him when the IED, hidden under the pile of bricks we were set up behind, exploded.
I was placed on a helicopter and the last thing I heard was Matthew reciting the 23rd Psalm, his hand resting lightly over my heart. ... It was April 16, 2011, a Saturday and I was 22 years old.
I was flown back to MidWay Airport and met there by my family and what looked like most of the fire trucks in Ellis County.
The road was lined with people all the way to Waxahachie holding signs and flags. I had told my dad that if anything happened to me, I wanted to be buried in the family cemetery in Mexico.
It took several days for the U.S. and Mexican governments to work the arrangements out, as I was the first U.S. serviceman killed in the Global War on Terrorism to be transported outside the United States.
The same plane that brought me home to Waxahachie took me to Tecomatlan, Mexico.
Because of my service, my family's adopted home is safe, my duty is complete, and I have been relieved.
I rest now with my ancestors.
Remember us, for we were soldiers once and young.
Perry Giles serves as co-chair of the Ellis County Veterans Appreciation Day Committee. The 2013 countywide tribute to veterans is scheduled for 10 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 9, at the Waxahachie Civic Center followed by a wreath presentation at the Ellis County Veterans Memorial located in front of the center.
Ellis County Dedicates Memorial For Fallen Iraq And Afghanistan Vets
By Steve Pickett
March 22, 2012 at 6:07 pm
WAXAHACHIE (CBSDFW.COM) – At first glance, the golden stone wall that sits between a trio of flag poles in front of Life School Red Oak Secondary Campus offers little to garner attention. But with a closer view, an observer would find the name of Joel Ramirez, his date of birth and date of death, attached to the wall.
"It may be made of brick and stone, but at the heart of this memorial is honor and respect," Waxahachie native Greg Compton commented during the formal dedication of Ellis County's Veterans Memorial Wall.
The wall recognizes veterans of the 9/11 era killed in combat in Iraq or Afghanistan. Joel Ramirez' name is the first attached to the wall. The Waxahachie native was killed during a tour of duty in Afghanistan in April of last year.
"For me, my son is still alive," Ramirez' father Feliciano Ramirez said. The family cut a yellow ribbon, listened to patriotic speeches, and talked about the oldest son and brother, now known as the first person dedicated to the Ellis County memorial. "I thank everyone for this," Ramirez said.
The fallen veteran's brother also wanted to show appreciation to the community for the acknowledgment of Joel's service and sacrifice. "He was always a caring person. He always put others in front of him," brother Daniel Ramirez said.
Six other Ellis County residents have lost their lives in battle in the past decade. Their names will also be added to the memorial wall. The memorial can be found at 3295 U.S. North Hwy. 77 in Waxahachie.
Joel is survived by his parents, Chano and Irma Ramirez; sisters, Christian Ramirez and Maria Ramirez; and brother, Daniel Ramirez, all from Waxahachie; 2-year-old daughter, Kaylee Marie Ramirez of Plano; paternal grandmother, Maria Ramirez of Mexico; various aunts, uncles and cousins. Joel was preceded in death by older sister, Alejandra Ramirez; paternal grandfather, Joel Ramirez; and maternal grandparents, Raquel Alvarez, and Trinidad Alvarez.
Joel was a 2007 Waxahachie High School graduate, where he played varsity soccer. He will be forever remembered as a loving son, brother and father. Joel proudly served his country as an infantryman in the 10th Infantry Division (Mountain), U.S. Army. Joel had been deployed to Afghanistan for one month at the time of his death.
The family wishes to convey their heartfelt thanks to the Waxahachie community for all their love and support.
Services to celebrate his life with full military honors will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday, May 1, 2011, at the Waxahachie Civic Center, 1950 N. IH-35E. Interment will be held in Tecomatlan, Jalisco, Mexico.
A memorial fund has been established in his honor at Wells Fargo Bank. Donations may be made to the "Joel Ramirez Memorial Fund."
www.waynebozefuneralhome.com
From The Dallas Morning News dallasnews.com 05/22/11:
Pfc. Joel A. Ramirez, Texan who volunteered to serve on the front lines, dies in Afghanistan
By JOE SIMNACHER Staff Writer
Published: 22 April 2011 10:46 PM
Updated: 22 April 2011 10:46 PM
Army Pfc. Joel A. Ramirez, a 2007 graduate of Waxahachie High School, wanted to do something with his life.
So, 18 months ago he joined the Army. He was offered a variety of positions, but instead he volunteered to be on the front lines. Last month, he was deployed to Afghanistan.
Pfc. Ramirez, 22, and two other soldiers died April 16 when their unit was attacked with an improvised explosive device in Nimroz province in Afghanistan.
Spc. Paul J. Atim, 27, of Green Bay, Wis., and Spc. Charles J. Wren, 25, a Texan who lived much of his life in Hondo, also died in the attack.
Services for Pfc. Ramirez will be at the Waxahachie Civic Center after his remains are returned home from Dover Air Force Base in Delaware sometime next week.
Pfc. Ramirez will be buried in Tecomatlán, Mexico.
"He had a lot of friends," said his brother, Daniel Ramirez of Waxahachie. "He put other people's needs before his own."
Pfc. Ramirez enjoyed serving in the Army, his brother said.
"He just wanted to make his life worth something," his brother said. "He didn't just want to be somebody … who went through life without doing anything with his life."
Pfc. Ramirez was born in Fall River Mills, Calif., and lived in Turlock, Calif., for the first 12 years of his life.
He and his family later moved to Tecomatlán, Mexico, where they lived for eight months to care for his grandfather, who was dying. The family moved to Waxahachie in December 2001.
In addition to his brother, Pfc. Ramirez is survived by his parents, Feliciano "Chano" and Irma Ramirez of Waxahachie; two sisters, Maria Ramirez and Christie Ramirez, both of Waxahachie; a daughter, Kaylee Marie Ramirez of Plano; and his grandmother, Maria Ramirez of Tecomatlán.
Memorials to help cover transportation to Mexico and burial expenses may be made to the Joel Ramirez Memorial Fund at any Wells Fargo bank.
We Were Soldiers Once, And Young: Joel Ramirez
By RICK CRABB Ellis County Veterans Appreciation Committee
Posted Nov 2, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Nov 2, 2013 at 10:55 AM
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following feature series profiles Ellis County veterans killed in the line of service to their country during the 20th century.
The features, researched and written by Perry Giles and Rick Crabb, are read in first-person voice by area students during the annual Ellis County Veterans Appreciation Day Ceremony as a special way to remember and pay tribute to our friends, classmates and neighbors who gave their lives for our freedom.
"We Were Soldiers Once and Young" will appear every Sunday in the Daily Light through Veterans Day.
We stand on the backs of their sacrifice. Their history is our tradition, as long as there are Americans to remember...
I had two weeks of leave in February before deploying, and I spent much of it with Daniel, who was now attending Texas State University in San Marcos.
Our days together were just like old times. Although I was still thinking of a career in the military, I told him that I'd like to get out and go back to school with him.
The last day before I left, Mary, Christy and I went to the mall to visit with Kaylee. I didn't have a bad feeling or anything like that, but during the ride up there I asked them to help me write a letter to my daughter in case something did.
Before we left I gave her my dog tags and the letter for her to read when she gets older.
I left all of my civilian clothes and belongings with my mother, instructing her to give all of my things to Daniel.
I thought it was important to say my goodbyes and tie up all the loose ends.
The next morning my dad took me to the airport. Right before I walked through the security gate, I hugged him one more time and gave him my coat as a farewell gift.
It had been good to see home and friends, but I was a soldier now, and I was going to Afghanistan. It was March of 2011.
The first week of April, we did what is called a "relief in place" with a battalion from the 101st Airborne Division in the Nimroz Province of Afghanistan.
This was at the very southern end of the country near Pakistan. I never forgot that most of the Afghani people were just like us -- they loved their families and wanted to feel safe.
I knew what we were doing there was important, and I never missed a chance to try and get a smile from one of the many kids we saw.
Soon after arriving in country, we had a "hearts and minds" operation, to show our Afghan neighbors we were there to help them, protect them and chase the Taliban out of our area of operations.
There was a lot of laughter and joking in our hooch, but that all ended when we were outside the HESCO barriers -- the blast walls surrounding our compound.
We were trained for patrol, and from the minute we suited up, it was all business. As we left the gate, we knew how dangerous it would be.
There are two kinds of machine guns in a Weapons Platoon, the Squad Automatic Weapon and the larger, more powerful M240.
Being from Texas, I had to have the biggest and the best, so I drew the M240. I figured since we were going to spend so much time together, my gun would need a name, and since it was the sexiest gun I'd ever seen, I called her Brittney Spears.
On our very first time out, our leadership team walked right into an ambush.
I saw what was happening and Brittney Spears and I laid down suppressive fire until they could clear the area.
My buddy Matthew was the radio operator with the command element and he made a real big deal about it.
It was one of those very scary situations that you laugh about later. I told him never to worry with me and Brittney Spears watching out for him.
I remembered promising Maureen that I would get Matthew home safely to her.
I kept that promise.
Right after that first operation, we were joined by our Platoon Leader, 1st Lieutenant McGrath, who had missed deploying with us because he had just completed the Ranger Course.
Jim and I were all over him, asking about what it was like and what we could do to get ready for it.
He was encouraging, but more interested in what Afghanistan was like and what we were facing.
I remember Sergeant Newton, who was a veteran of the fighting in Iraq, telling him, "This is a different fight."
Very few of us had ever been in combat before, and we could see that those who had were concerned. Since this had been our first real operation since arriving, it took a lot out of all of us, and we were surprised to learn that 1st Platoon was going back out less than 48 hours later.
On April 16, a group suspected to be Taliban were reported to be in our area and our higher headquarters wanted them pushed out.
We loaded back up and headed for the gate. I was pumped to be going back out on our second patrol.
We had explosive ordnance disposal technicians with us, but we were moving too fast for them to properly clear the path in front of us. We made contact with the enemy almost immediately and began working together like we had done this all our lives.
We found our first IED and thought that would pretty much be the end of our day.
We got to a wall and set up to secure the area and then began taking fire from what was reported to be a 12.7mm heavy machine gun. This is a bad weapon to be facing because it shoots a lot bigger bullet than Brittney Spears!
The lieutenant had us push out into a poppy field to flank the enemy and get between them and the village.
I was impressed that he called it our village, and that we were there to protect them.
The weapons section found a pile of bricks to use for cover. Cpl. Chaz Wren and Sgt. Paul Atim were with me.
The three of us really were the A team, and our platoon knew everything would be OK as long as we were watching over them.
It's crazy to be in a dangerous situation like that, but we were in our element. The adrenalin was pumping, the sun was shining, and we were taking the fight to the enemy.
Before long, the shooting stopped and it got very quiet.
Matthew, never able to sit still for very long, ran over to our position. Everyone was well-hidden, but with his radio antenna waving in the air, it was easy to see when he was on the move.
He was obviously trying to make a good impression on our new lieutenant and wanted to bum some dip off of me for him.
We talked for a while, and I gave him my can. He was only gone a couple of minutes and came back with it.
I remember I was smiling at him when the IED, hidden under the pile of bricks we were set up behind, exploded.
I was placed on a helicopter and the last thing I heard was Matthew reciting the 23rd Psalm, his hand resting lightly over my heart. ... It was April 16, 2011, a Saturday and I was 22 years old.
I was flown back to MidWay Airport and met there by my family and what looked like most of the fire trucks in Ellis County.
The road was lined with people all the way to Waxahachie holding signs and flags. I had told my dad that if anything happened to me, I wanted to be buried in the family cemetery in Mexico.
It took several days for the U.S. and Mexican governments to work the arrangements out, as I was the first U.S. serviceman killed in the Global War on Terrorism to be transported outside the United States.
The same plane that brought me home to Waxahachie took me to Tecomatlan, Mexico.
Because of my service, my family's adopted home is safe, my duty is complete, and I have been relieved.
I rest now with my ancestors.
Remember us, for we were soldiers once and young.
Perry Giles serves as co-chair of the Ellis County Veterans Appreciation Day Committee. The 2013 countywide tribute to veterans is scheduled for 10 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 9, at the Waxahachie Civic Center followed by a wreath presentation at the Ellis County Veterans Memorial located in front of the center.
Ellis County Dedicates Memorial For Fallen Iraq And Afghanistan Vets
By Steve Pickett
March 22, 2012 at 6:07 pm
WAXAHACHIE (CBSDFW.COM) – At first glance, the golden stone wall that sits between a trio of flag poles in front of Life School Red Oak Secondary Campus offers little to garner attention. But with a closer view, an observer would find the name of Joel Ramirez, his date of birth and date of death, attached to the wall.
"It may be made of brick and stone, but at the heart of this memorial is honor and respect," Waxahachie native Greg Compton commented during the formal dedication of Ellis County's Veterans Memorial Wall.
The wall recognizes veterans of the 9/11 era killed in combat in Iraq or Afghanistan. Joel Ramirez' name is the first attached to the wall. The Waxahachie native was killed during a tour of duty in Afghanistan in April of last year.
"For me, my son is still alive," Ramirez' father Feliciano Ramirez said. The family cut a yellow ribbon, listened to patriotic speeches, and talked about the oldest son and brother, now known as the first person dedicated to the Ellis County memorial. "I thank everyone for this," Ramirez said.
The fallen veteran's brother also wanted to show appreciation to the community for the acknowledgment of Joel's service and sacrifice. "He was always a caring person. He always put others in front of him," brother Daniel Ramirez said.
Six other Ellis County residents have lost their lives in battle in the past decade. Their names will also be added to the memorial wall. The memorial can be found at 3295 U.S. North Hwy. 77 in Waxahachie.
