‘A hero, plain and simple’: Queens family mourns fallen local soldier
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The family of fallen Army Sgt. Angel Sarah Rampersad mourned their daughter, sister and friend on Thursday outside her Ozone Park home. Photo via Borough President Donovan Richards’ Office
By Ryan Schwach
Sergeant Angel Sarah Rampersad, the Queens soldier killed in the ongoing war with Iran, was remembered by her family and community as a local hero who always wanted to serve during a vigil outside her Ozone Park home on Thursday.
“She always knew what she wanted to be,” said her aunt, Judy Rackal. “We are so proud of our Angel.”
Rampersad’s mother, step-father, aunts, uncles and closet friends spoke to reporters on Thursday about the joyous, tranquil and courageous 28-year-old.
“Angel was always a happy, content, and calm person all through her life, in the face of every crisis that her family encountered, she would be the calmest all the time,” said Rackal. “She had acquired strength even from a child.”
Born in Trinidad, Rampersad immigrated to the United States and Queens with her mother and sister at two-and-a-half-years-old. She attended school in Ozone Park, graduating from Forest Hills High School, where she bowled and played softball, in 2015.
She graduated from CUNY John Jay College with a degree in criminal justice.
It wasn’t long after she left college that she began her career in the military.
“At the age of 18, Angel knew exactly who she wanted, what she wanted to do with her life,” said Rackal. “So a few days after her 21st birthday, she made an appointment with the recruiter and signed up on her own.”
Rampersad, who served seven years in the Army, was stationed in Hawaii before being moved to Germany. She was a member of the 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 10th Army Air & Missile Defense Command, where she worked maintaining key battlefield communications networks.
On Friday, Rampersad was stationed at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan when the base was struck by an Iranian missile strike, immediately killing her and two other service members – 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas,
Army Sgt. Angel Sarah Rampersad, from Ozone Park, was killed in an Iranian missile strike last week. Photo via United States Army
She was initially declared missing, but the Department of Defense confirmed that Rampersad was killed in action on Tuesday.
Through tears, her mother, Carol Acevedo said she was proud of her daughter.
"She died for this country, and as her mother, I'm highly proud of her,” she said.
Rampersad’s father, who lives in Trinidad, was making his way back to New York on Thursday for his daughter’s funeral, the family said.
Rampersad’s wife, whose name was not given, is herself a servicemember and is currently stationed in Jordan.
Borough President Donovan Richards said Rampersad will forever be remembered by her home borough.
“Angel was a hero, plain and simple,” he said. “Her legacy of selflessness and sacrifice will live on forever here in Ozone Park and across Queens, but not just Queens, across this nation.”
“Even though she wasn't born in the U.S., she loved it so much that she was willing to defend it with her own life,” he added. “Angel was Queens. Angel was the United States, and Angel will forever be our hero here in Ozone Park.”
Rampersad is the 18th U.S. servicemember to be killed in the ongoing war with Iran, which is in its second week of renewed violence following the breakdown of a temporary peace deal.
Following the Friday attack that killed Rampersad, President Donald Trump said that the U.S. would return strikes “in honor” of the fallen troops.
“We feel very badly, but you know, those great people, those great patriots were out there fighting so that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said on Sunday, the Associated Press reported.
U.S. strikes against Iran over the past three weeks are believed to have killed at least 50 people and wounded 500 others, according to Iranian authorities.
Tributes to Rampersad and her family from local officials continued to pour in on Thursday.
“Today, we honor the life and sacrifice of Sgt. Angel Sarah Rampersad,” said State Senator James Sanders. “As a veteran, the loss of a soldier in my district feels deeply personal. Sgt. Rampersad answered the call to serve with courage, honor, and love of country. My heartfelt condolences go out to her family.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said that Rampersad’s death was a “tragedy for Queens, for New York, and for our nation.”
“She answered the call to serve with courage and dedication, and we are deeply grateful for her commitment to protecting our country,” he said.
Her family said they had received an immense amount of support since her death was confirmed by the military on Tuesday.
“We want to thank everyone for the amazing outpouring of love and support,” her aunt said. “We are grateful for the compassion and thoughtfulness of friends, family, neighbors.”
The family said they were waiting for the release of Rampersad’s body to make final arrangements.
A community vigil will be held in front of the family’s Ozone Park home on Monday, July 27 and 7 p.m.
