One of the U.S. soldiers who lost their life in an Iranian assault on a military base was remembered as a “social butterfly” by a grieving family in Queens. They described Sergeant Angel Rampersad, 28, from Ozone Park, as someone with a smile that could light up a room.
Rampersad had ambitious plans to explore the world while serving his country, but those dreams came to an abrupt end in an attack on the Muwafaq-Salti Air Base in Jordan last Friday, according to friends and family.
“I don’t think there’s a word that captures the emotion surrounding this tragedy yet. ‘Sad’ doesn’t begin to describe it,” stated Deacon Carlos Garcia, a neighbor and friend. “We’ve lost not just a soldier, but a significant part of our community.”
Rampersad earned her degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and had a passion for music, playing the drums. She had aspired to join the Army from a young age.
“She was very determined. She wanted to enlist at 18, but her mother discouraged her. Family history in the military was strong, as her uncle and brother-in-law both served,” Garcia shared.
“She died serving her country and doing what she truly loved,” he added.
Logan Thomson, a 30-year-old retired sergeant who served alongside Rampersad, remarked on her adventurous spirit and charm.
“Everything about her, from her smile to her confidence, lit up any space she occupied. She had this knack for making friends wherever she went,” Thomson noted, mentioning her involvement in radio at the base.
“Her goal was to see the world, and joining the military was a pathway for her,” he reflected, clearly upset about her sudden passing.
“I can’t help but replay her last moments in my mind, and it tears me apart. She deserved so much more,” he lamented.
Rampersad’s family portrayed her as a fierce supporter of those in need.
“Our dear Angel, Sergeant Sarah Rampersad, was a gentle giant,” they said in an emotional tribute. “She fought for those who couldn’t advocate for themselves, cherishing her family and living on in the hearts she touched.”
Rampersad was among three soldiers killed in a missile strike on a U.S. military base in Jordan, along with Army Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, from Hawaii, and a noncommissioned officer, Isabella Gonzalez, 19, from Texas.
The Pentagon confirmed Rampersad’s identity as the U.S. conducted airstrikes on Iran for eleven consecutive nights.
Another service member, Sgt. Michael Emanuel Swinton from North Carolina, also reportedly died while attempting to disarm an Iranian drone that had been shot down in Iraq.
Rampersad was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade, stationed in Germany.
Garcia mentioned that her remains would be returned from Germany to the U.S.
“They’re arranging what they call a dignified transfer. I believe her body is on its way back to the family, who will gather to receive her,” he explained.
