Patbouvier E. Ortiz

NAME: Patbouvier E. Ortiz

PLACE OF BIRTH: Queens, NY

DATE OF BIRTH: 07 Aug 1963

DATES OF SERVICE: ?? ??? ???? - 27 Feb 1991

UNIT ASSIGNED: C Company 509th Pathfinders

CAMPAIGNS: Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm

AWARDS: Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait), Valorous Unit Award, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge Air Assault Badge

SUMMARY OF SERVICE:

On 22 August 1990, five members of C Co (Pathfinders) stationed at Ft Rucker, AL were selected to go to the Persian Gulf attached to the 18th Airborne Corps, 101st Airborne Div (Air Assault). Their mission was to perform search and rescue for downed aviators, sling load operations, and set up Forward Arming and Refueling Points (FARP). For this deployment they received the Valorous Unit Award.

During a search and rescue mission with three 509ers aboard, their helicopter was shot down. Two were KIA and one became a POW.

Their names are:

SSG Larry Mike Richardson - AL left the service.

SGT (P) Dennis Lloyd Smith - went to 75th Rangers

SGT(P) Patbouvier E Ortiz - KIA

SGT Roger P(Paul) Brilinski - KIA

SGT Troy A. Dunlap - POW

SGT Ortiz was killed during the attempted rescue of a downed Air Force pilot, Capt. William F. Andrews.

Attempting a rescue of a downed USAF F-16 pilot while under heavy AAA fire. A/C was hit, pitched forward and crashed into an earthen berm, landing nose first, the A/C dug into the soft sand and flipped over and exploded. Mission was a flight of three (2 AH64s/1 UH60) being vectored to last known location of downed F-16 by AWACS. Flight was vectored directly over a heavily defended Iraqi Republican Guard position. A/C tail cone was severed by AAA (23 and 57MM).

Army Staff Sergeant Patbouvier Ortiz, 27 of Queens, New York City. Killed in a helicopter crash while rescuing a downed pilot. Survived by his wife.

ORTIZ, PATBOUVIER E S/SGT US ARMY DATE OF BIRTH: 08/07/1963 DATE OF DEATH: 02/27/1991 BURIED AT: SECTION DSS SITE 80A LONG ISLAND NATIONAL CEMETERY 2040 WELLWOOD AVENUE FARMINGDALE, NY 11735-1211 (631) 454-4949



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