Army Pfc. Francisco J. Guardado-Ramirez

Remember Our Heroes

Army Pfc. Francisco J. Guardado-Ramirez, 21, of Sunland Park, N.M.

Pfc. Guardado-Ramirez was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.; died June 2, 2010 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a noncombat-related incident.

A 3rd Infantry Division soldier died in a non-combat-related accident in Iraq, confirmed the U.S. Army.

PV2 Francisco Guardado-Ramirez, 21, of Sunland Park, N.M.Mexico was based out of Fort Stewart and was on tour in Iraq when he was killed Wednesday night in a traffic accident.

Guardado-Ramirez was serving as a convoy gunner inside a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle that struck an overpass. The soldier was ejected after the vehicle's turret struck the structure, according to authorities.

The rear detachment commander of the 1-41 Field Artillery said Guardado-Ramirez was MEDEVAC’d to the 28th Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad, where he died.

The unmarried soldier's parents in New Mexico were notified Thursday morning.

A tree will be planted in his honor along Warriors Walk at Ft. Stewart on July 15, 2010. That day at 10 a.m. there will be a dedication ceremony to honor PV2 Guardado-Ramirez and another fallen soldier, Staff Sgt. Amilcar Gonzalez who was killed on May 21, 2010.

Warriors Walk is an area on post dedicated to the soldiers and attached units of 3rd Infantry Division (Fort Stewart & Hunter Army Airfield) who sacrificed their lives during Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Each Eastern Redbud tree planted along the walkway symbolizes a soldier who has lost his or her life.

The tree for PV2 Guardado-Ramirez will be the 432nd tree in Warriors Walk.

Army Pfc. Francisco J. Guardado-Ramirez was killed in a non-combat related incident on 6/2/10.