Alex R. Jimenez In Honor of Alex R. Jimenez Army Staff Sergeant Alex Jimenez was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division in Fort Drum, N.Y. On May 12, 2007, Alex was captured by enemy forces in Jurf es Sakhr, Iraq, when his unit was attacked by insurgents using automatic fire and explosives, during Operation Iraqi Freedom. His body was recovered July 8, 2008. Alex was 25 years old. Alex Jimenez was born into a large, close-knit immigrant family from the Dominican Republic. His grandfather and uncles worked at the World Trade Center in Manhattan. Alex was a natural born leader and, as the eldest of his siblings, he always looked after them, and inspired them to be the best that they could be. His brother Andy says, “Alex always told me ‘Follow your dream, follow your heart. Go for what makes you happy and what you want.’” Maria, Alex’s mother, recalls how from a young age Alex wanted to protect the freedom of the United States. After the attacks on September 11, Alex joined in the Army. Alex was stationed in Fort Drum, NY, and first deployed to Korea in 2003, before being deployed to Iraq in 2005. He worked hard but always kept smiling. On May 12, 2007, a U.S. military observation post near Mahmoudiyah in Iraq was attacked. Four Americans, Sgt. 1st Class James Connell Jr., Pfc. Daniel Courneya, Pfc. Christopher Murphy, Sgt. Anthony Schober and one Iraqi soldier manning the post were killed. Three other Americans, Pfc. Joseph Anzack, Pvt. Byron Fouty and Spc. Alex Jimenez, were abducted. Searches for the missing soldiers began immediately. Anzack’s body found a few days later. Fourteen months passed before the remains of Jimenez and Fouty were found on July 8, 2008. Jimenez was finally brought home, just not how his family had wanted. Alex Jimenez is survived by his wife, Yaderlin, his mother, Maria, and his father, Ramon; and his brothers Andy Javier, Irving, Andy, Bryant, and Alexander. Alex Jimenez’s awards and medals include: the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Acheivement Medal, Prisoner of War Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with Bronze Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Expeditionary Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Infantry Badge, Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Carbine device Expert, Overseas Service Bar. View Alex’s Photo Gallery Back to Brush of Honor Homepage