The Story:
Spc. Ramirez, a chemical specialist, was part of a brigade conducting operations around Ar Ramadi, Iraq, on Aug. 9, 2006. The city is the capital of Al Anbar province, where support for the Sunni insurgency is strong. Ramirez was driving a Humvee in a seven-vehicle convoy when a homemade roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle, killing him and two other soldiers. For going above and beyond the call of duty and sacrificing his life for his fellow soldiers, on Sept. 7, 2006, Ramirez was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Badge, and the Honor of the Dragon, a unique award given to chemical specialists.