Army Staff Sgt. Rafael A. Alicea Rivera

Died February 05, 2008 serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom

30, of Bayamon, Puerto Rico; assigned to the 307th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died Feb. 5 in Tallil, Iraq, of injuries sustained in a non-combat-related incident.

Paratrooper dies of injuries in non-combat incident

The Associated Press

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — A paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division has died in Iraq from injuries sustained in a non-combat incident, the military said.

The Department of Defense said Feb. 6 that Sgt. Rafael A. Alicea Rivera, 30, of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, died Feb. 5 in Tallil, Iraq.

The circumstances of his injuries weren’t disclosed, but the military said the incident was being investigated.

Alicea Rivera was assigned to the 307th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division.

“His quiet personality with his motivated, charming smile always seemed to brighten the moment,” said Staff Sgt. Robert Davis, a fellow soldier. “His quiet, professional way seemed to calm all those who were around him.”

Alicea Rivera is survived by his mother, Carmen Lozada, and his sister, Wanda L. Alicea Rivera, both of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Soldier remembered for his calm, professionalism

The Associated Press

Staff Sgt. Robert Davis said Rafael Alicea Rivera had a quiet personality and good sense of humor.

“When we performed physical training, he often called cadence on some of our longest runs,” Davis said. “He knew his accent would butcher the cadence, but he would continue on as we ran, making us all laugh.”

Alicea Rivera, 30, of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, died Feb. 5 in Tallil, Iraq, from a non-combat-related incident. He was assigned to Fort Bragg, N.C.

“I do and will always miss Sergeant Rafael Alicea,” Davis said. “May God bless him and his family.”

Alicea Rivera joined the Army in November 2002 and served in Korea from April 2003 to April 2004.

“His quiet personality with his motivated, charming smile always seemed to brighten the moment,” said Davis. “His quiet, professional way seemed to calm all those who were around him. “No matter the workload, hot or cold, late or early, we knew and saw him to be calm and smooth with all that he was doing and accomplishing.”

He is survived by his mother, Carmen Lozada.