Juan Restrepo's name has been immortalized in the award-winning documentary titled after the remote outpost dedicated in his honor by his platoon. But more than a name, Juan Sebastian Restrepo was a devoted father to Adriana, a loving son to Marcela Pardo, a brother to Ivan and Pablo, a best friend to Jorge. He was also a combat medic and paratrooper in the United States Army, loved by his battle buddies. Remember the man behind the name. Honor his sacrifice. -Joanne
Operation Enduring Freedom Juan Restrepo, 20, of Pembroke Pines, FL; assigned to 2nd platoon, Battle Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Vicenza, Italy; died July 22 in Korengal Valley, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small-arms fire.
During his time in service, PFC Restrepo completed Basic Infantry Training at Fort Benning, Georgia; Medical Advanced Individual Training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas; and Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia. On 22 November 2006, PFC Restrepo’s reported to his first duty station at Caserma Ederle, Vicenza, Italy with the 173d Airborne Brigade Combat Team with assignment to 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry – The Rock. PFC Restrepo was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company with duty as a combat medic in Battle Company. He immediately found his home among the combat tested Soldiers of 2nd Platoon – The Spartans. PFC Restrepo trained, deployed, and fought with his Battle Hard brothers in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM VIII. PFC Restrepo distinguished himself as an exemplary medic and as one of the finest Soldiers in the Battle Hard ranks.
PFC Juan S. Restrepo’s awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Basic Parachutist Badge and the Combat Medical Badge.
News Article from July 27, 2007-- PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. -- Residents of a Pembroke Pines neighborhood watched Juan Restrepo grow from a boy into a young man. They remember his love for music and were surprised when he became a soldier. They were even more surprised to learn of his untimely death.
The Department of Defense said Restrepo died from his injuries in Afghanistan on Sunday after insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire.Restrepo, 20, was an airborne combat medic, a single father who said he was working to provide for his beautiful baby girl.
He will be missed by those who knew him best. Neighbor Micki Cochran said that growing up, Restrepo was a typical teenager with dreams of becoming a musician.
"He loved music. He played in a band. Sometimes his next door neighbors wanted him to cut it out, but he was a good kid," Cochran said.
Neighbor Mark Kalinksy said he was shocked when Restrepo joined the army.
"It was a very recent thing. It was a surprise when he went into the service," Kalinsky said.
Since his deployment earlier this summer, Restrepo is the fifth soldier to die from his combat team in Afghanistan and the second South Florida soldier to die in less than a week.
On Tuesday, Sgt. First Class Michael Curry was killed in Afghanistan when a roadside bomb exploded.
Restrepo's neighbors told NBC 6's Tisha Lewis that the family's home on the 193rd block of Southwest 5th Street will never be the same.
The family moved to the United States from Colombia in search of a better life. Family members and friends now find themselves coping with a war that's hitting too close to home.
"You have these radicals that dress their 2-year-old up in these suicide bomber outfits. It's the wrong place at the wrong time. I don't think we should be there," Kalinsky said.
Meanwhile, the American Flag flies high on Restrepo's Pembroke Pines street, in honor of a hero who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Restrepo will be buried in Colombia.
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Trailer from the award-winning documentary by filmakers Sebastian Junger and Tim Hetherington - http://bigpeace.com/ajtata/2010/07/06/restrepo-required-viewing-for-all-americans/
see the website http://www.restrepothemovie.com/ Now showing in select theatres, distributed by National Geographic-i will not post all the reviews here - google it!
MiamiNewTimes Blog July 12 2010 : Juan "Doc" Restrepo, a 20-year-old Army medic from Pembroke Pines, appears only twice in the new documentary bearing his name. On a train in Italy, he mugs for the camera. South Beach shades cover his eyes, and a huge grin spreads across his face.
"Tune in next time, where we're still going to be lovin' life -- and getting ready for war," Restrepo says to the camera.
A few weeks later, shortly after his platoon arrives in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley, two bullets shatter Restrepo's face. He dies in a helicopter on the way to a hospital.
The young soldier's sacrifice garnered barely a mention in the Miami Herald when it happened in 2007, but his platoon -- stuck in the deadliest valley in Afghanistan -- rallied around his memory, naming a remote outpost after him and then fighting like hell to keep "OP Restrepo" secure from the Taliban.
"He had a big heart, an amazing smile, and he was a great guitar player," Maj. Dan Kearney, the platoon's commander, says in an interview with New Times. "Losing him as soon as we did into the deployment was a big impact. He was the guy they called to... looking for comfort." ..........
.....In its last frames, the film -- which opens in Miami-Dade July 23 at AMC Theatres Aventura 24 -- casts ambiguity on the struggle, when viewers learn the Army abandoned the valley soon after Restrepo's platoon left Afghanistan.
Still, Kearney says the "lovin' life" kid didn't die for naught.
"We can throw money at our problems all day long, but finding young men and women to go out and do what Juan did isn't easy," Kearney says. "I can honestly walk away from Afghanistan knowing that Restrepo and the rest of us made an impact there."
Recent New Articles from July 17 2010 with interviews of Juan Restrepo's family
The Sun-Sentinel -excerpt:
EVERY DAY IS MEMORIAL DAY FOR THOSE LEFT BEHIND......
For the sake of accuracy, I just wanted to point out that PFC Restrepo completed basic training at Fort Sill, O.K. We were in 2nd Plt. Bravo Battery 1/79. He was one of the first men that I met in my Army career. He was Platoon Guide for nearly the whole 9 week cycle. Right away, he was one of few other soldiers, that everyone could look up to. Not just because he was a PT stud, or that he was one of the most squared away soldier's in our platoon. He had a natural-born leaders' character, without being too rigid, or too involved to "stop and smell the roses." He was also very humble, and never passed by someone who needed his help. I remember many times when he would put on hold whatever he was doing, to double check your uniform in the morning while we were all still groggy-eyed, or do some extra PT and motivate you to do better, or just talk about whatever was on your mind, usually thoughts about back home, and how great it's gonna be when we finally graduate. I say all this because I didn't know him for very long at all, but he made a very strong impact on me, and although I can't speak for others, I believe that he made the difference between success and failure for several of us. All that in only 9 short weeks should tell you a great deal about someone. At least it does to me. After we graduated, he and I continued on to AIT at Fort Sam Houston, T.X., along with many others from our BCT battery. Restrepo continued to help fellow soldiers who were struggling with the EMT portion of our course, even to the point of (unfortunately, I believe) sabotaging his own ability to pass the NREMT final exam after six weeks of arduous studying, and repetitious practical exercises. He often attended the extracurricular study hall to assist other soldiers who were having difficulty. I never saw him again after the test. I still regret not being able to walk across that stage with him. I believe he made honor graduate in his next cycle, but I can't verify it. Almost a solid year had gone by since I had been at my first duty station, Fort Wainwright, A.K. when a battle buddy who Restrepo and I had also gone through BCT with, PFC Richard Allen, told me that he had been shot and killed in an ambush while on deployment to Afghanistan. I couldn't believe it. I'm not going to go through all the thoughts and feelings I had after that. Suffice to say, when I heard of his death, it eventually proved to serve as a reminder to me that as human beings, we inevitably, fail. But how we carry on, and persevere, is what defines us as individuals, soldiers, men, women, and people. Restrepo was there for his battle buddies, his team, and his friends. As a fellow soldier, and combat medic, I can think of nothing more respectable, nor honorable, than to fight, live, and die with, and for, those whom you have sworn to preserve, protect, and serve. My name is SPC Alexander J. Costea. My deepest condolences to the family and friends of Juan Sebastian Restrepo. Gone, sincerely missed, but never forgotten.
Posted by: Shadism18 | 10/27/2010 at 04:56 AM
Thank you SPC Costea for taking the time to share, and for your service.
Posted by: LongIslandgirl | 10/28/2010 at 09:10 AM
I'll second that PFC Restrepo trained at Ft. Sill with us. I was in 4th Platoon "Aw nah, hell nah Rough Riders up an'...." well those who were there will remember.
I was PV2 Jason Anderson - I struggled through most of BCT with a broken heel bone and PFC Restrepo was always there to lend an ear and offer support. He would never cease to have an upbeat attitude and put a smile on your face.
PFC Restrepo sat with myself and my family at graduation - he graduated with honors and the second highest PT scores in our class at Ft. Sill. My mother remembers him fondly and was brought to tears when we found out about his death.
A great man, a great soldier, a great medic - he did everything in his power to put the needs of others before his. I was with him throughout all of AIT (in both of his cycles) and he excelled at 232 B in his second cycle. Our cadre had nothing but good things to say about him.
He loved his tooth brush, he loved soccer, he loved life - and he lived as an honorable man.
He will be missed by me, by everyone that knew him. I hope his family has found closure in trying times.
Rest in peace Restrepo - hope they have a special tooth brush for you up there.
Posted by: Jason Anderson | 06/08/2012 at 04:17 AM
Correction, PFC Restrepo started at 232B at Ft. Sam Houston and graduated with 232C.
I happened to be on base throughout both phases and got to know the cadre around the entire base due to circumstances surrounding my injuries.
Everyone respected and looked up to him - being held back did nothing but make him a better role model for new soldiers coming in from BCT. His dedicated and determination to help others did not falter after failing his first EMT-B test at 232B - he remained the same helpful man at 232C and managed to pass with flying colors.
Posted by: Jason Anderson | 06/08/2012 at 04:27 AM