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New York Daily News
June 25, 2008 Soldiers were on way to train police officers in Afghanistan
By Edgar Sandoval and Leo Standora, Daily News Staff Writers
Insurgents ambushed and killed three New York National Guardsmen as they headed to train police officers in southern Afghanistan, Defense Department officials said yesterday.
A roadside bomb ripped apart an armored vehicle carrying Sgt. Andrew Seabrooks of Queens, Sgt. Anthony Mangano of Long Island, and Spec. Nelson Rodriguez-Ramirez of Revere, Mass., on the outskirts of Kandahar on Saturday, the military said.
Then the insurgents riddled the vehicle with small arms fire.
All three men were with A Troop, Second Squadron, 101st Cavalry, based in Geneva, Ontario County.
They were part of Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix, a multinational force of more than 8,000 U.S. and NATO service personnel training the Afghan Army and police.
“We in the military understand that we may be called upon to pay the ultimate sacrifice,” said Maj. Gen. Joseph Taluto, commander of the New York Army National Guard. “These three members of the Army National Guard died carrying out an important mission: training the Afghan forces to stand against elements that would return their country to the dark ages. We are proud of them, and we will never forget them.”
Seabrooks, 36, joined the New York Army National Guard in March 1994 and was assigned to Company G of the 427th Brigade Support Battalion in Jamaica, Queens, before deployment to Afghanistan last year. His widow and two younger children live in Newport News, Va.
Seabrooks’ friend Glory Hedges, 22, said he did a tour in Iraq and volunteered in January to go to Afghanistan to save his family’s home in South Ozone Park from foreclosure with his pay.
Hedges, her son with Seabrooks, Xavier, 4, Seabrook’s older sister Melissa, brothers Jeffrey and Willie, and another son Andrew, 15, all live in the house.
“He wanted to secure a home for his children,” said Hedges, who vowed to do everything she can to keep the house. “It was his wish. I can’t let it go.”
“I’ve lost my best friend and my son lost his father,” she said, her eyes misting. “But he’s not going anywhere. He’s still here in my heart and in my mind.”
Andrew Seabrooks said his dad was a role model who made sure he and his friends walked the straight and narrow.
One of his favorite memories is of playing handball with his father. “He loved that game,” the teen said, “He was a great father. He was a wonderful guy.”
Neighbors also remembered Seabrooks, known on the block as Drew, as a friendly, family-oriented man who loved to tinker with the five Volkswagens he owned.
“We hung out a lot when he was home,” said Kelvin Willks, 48. “He was like a brother to me. He always had a smile and a ‘hi’ for people. He was like a friend to everybody and everybody on the block knew him.
“We all kind of groaned when he went to Afghanistan, but not Drew. He loved what he was doing.”
Jacqueline Small, 79, said Seabrooks was devoted to sister Melissa, who has Down syndrome.
“I knew Drew since he was a little boy. He was like a part of our family and we always tried to help him care for his sister. He was always looking out for her.”
Mangano, 36, joined the New York Army National Guard in August 1991 and subsequently reenlisted.
He is is survived by a wife, who lives in Brazil, and his mother, who lives in Greenlawn, L.I. He was promoted posthumously from specialist to sergeant.
Rodriguez-Ramirez, 22, joined the New York Army National Guard in September 2003.
He is survived by a daughter who lives with his ex-wife in Niagara Falls, N.Y., and by his parents in Massachusetts.
All three have been awarded the New York State Conspicuous Service Cross, which recognizes honorable wartime service.
June 25, 2008 Soldiers were on way to train police officers in Afghanistan
By Edgar Sandoval and Leo Standora, Daily News Staff Writers
Insurgents ambushed and killed three New York National Guardsmen as they headed to train police officers in southern Afghanistan, Defense Department officials said yesterday.
A roadside bomb ripped apart an armored vehicle carrying Sgt. Andrew Seabrooks of Queens, Sgt. Anthony Mangano of Long Island, and Spec. Nelson Rodriguez-Ramirez of Revere, Mass., on the outskirts of Kandahar on Saturday, the military said.
Then the insurgents riddled the vehicle with small arms fire.
All three men were with A Troop, Second Squadron, 101st Cavalry, based in Geneva, Ontario County.
They were part of Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix, a multinational force of more than 8,000 U.S. and NATO service personnel training the Afghan Army and police.
“We in the military understand that we may be called upon to pay the ultimate sacrifice,” said Maj. Gen. Joseph Taluto, commander of the New York Army National Guard. “These three members of the Army National Guard died carrying out an important mission: training the Afghan forces to stand against elements that would return their country to the dark ages. We are proud of them, and we will never forget them.”
Seabrooks, 36, joined the New York Army National Guard in March 1994 and was assigned to Company G of the 427th Brigade Support Battalion in Jamaica, Queens, before deployment to Afghanistan last year. His widow and two younger children live in Newport News, Va.
Seabrooks’ friend Glory Hedges, 22, said he did a tour in Iraq and volunteered in January to go to Afghanistan to save his family’s home in South Ozone Park from foreclosure with his pay.
Hedges, her son with Seabrooks, Xavier, 4, Seabrook’s older sister Melissa, brothers Jeffrey and Willie, and another son Andrew, 15, all live in the house.
“He wanted to secure a home for his children,” said Hedges, who vowed to do everything she can to keep the house. “It was his wish. I can’t let it go.”
“I’ve lost my best friend and my son lost his father,” she said, her eyes misting. “But he’s not going anywhere. He’s still here in my heart and in my mind.”
Andrew Seabrooks said his dad was a role model who made sure he and his friends walked the straight and narrow.
One of his favorite memories is of playing handball with his father. “He loved that game,” the teen said, “He was a great father. He was a wonderful guy.”
Neighbors also remembered Seabrooks, known on the block as Drew, as a friendly, family-oriented man who loved to tinker with the five Volkswagens he owned.
“We hung out a lot when he was home,” said Kelvin Willks, 48. “He was like a brother to me. He always had a smile and a ‘hi’ for people. He was like a friend to everybody and everybody on the block knew him.
“We all kind of groaned when he went to Afghanistan, but not Drew. He loved what he was doing.”
Jacqueline Small, 79, said Seabrooks was devoted to sister Melissa, who has Down syndrome.
“I knew Drew since he was a little boy. He was like a part of our family and we always tried to help him care for his sister. He was always looking out for her.”
Mangano, 36, joined the New York Army National Guard in August 1991 and subsequently reenlisted.
He is is survived by a wife, who lives in Brazil, and his mother, who lives in Greenlawn, L.I. He was promoted posthumously from specialist to sergeant.
Rodriguez-Ramirez, 22, joined the New York Army National Guard in September 2003.
He is survived by a daughter who lives with his ex-wife in Niagara Falls, N.Y., and by his parents in Massachusetts.
All three have been awarded the New York State Conspicuous Service Cross, which recognizes honorable wartime service.