Michael A. DiRaimondo, 22

Army, Sergeant

Based: Ft. Carson, Colo.

571st Medical Company (Air Ambulance)

Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom

Died: January 8, 2004

Fallouja (near), Iraq

Single

Gender: Male

Hometown: Simi Valley

High School: Simi Valley High (Simi Valley)

Burial: Assumption Cemetery, Simi Valley

DiRaimondo joined the Army to become a paramedic, a goal he had had ever since administering first aid to an injured skier when he was still in high school.

Keicia M. Hines, 01/14/2004

Jesse D. Mizener, 01/07/2004

16 memories of Michael A. DiRaimondo

“

Today is the 7th anniversary of "Mike D's" passing.
I have never written anything before, It has always been too hard... It still is...
Mike and I first met on a bus making it's rounds of Tal Afar... He saw my 571st flight patch and asked me what seemed like a 1000 questions about what we do, and how could he be a part of it... He instantly struck me as bright, eager to learn and willing to work to get where he wanted to be. When I got back to our company area a short time later, he had already stopped by to talk with the people I told him he should... I was pleased to see a few weeks later that he was now a "Which Doctor".
Mike and I soon became good friends... We spent many late nights watching movies, talking about what we would do when we got back, studying for his flight progression as well as studying for the Sergeant promotion board...
When the Chinook was shot down 2 November 2003, Mike was in the beginning of his flight training and ended up on his own, away from his Blackhawk aircraft on the 2nd Chinook that was used as a mass-cal transport... We of course made fun of him for being on the wrong aircraft as it took off, but ultimately, he shocked and impressed everyone by working it like he had been doing it for years, keeping calm and collected, doing what he knew must be done and doing it to the highest standard possible...
When I heard just two months later that all were lost on his aircraft, I didn't believe it, not Mike... In the MEDEVAC we saw death everyday... And yet I could not accept that my friend was gone... I had the honor and privilege to represent Mike at his promotion in Iraq, that was when it hit me that my friend was gone... As hard as it was, I held back my tears and proudly carried his Stetson forward to be pinned with the Sergeant stripes we studied all those nights for.
Mike and I were planning to drive from Colorado to California when we got back stateside to pick up his Tacoma... I made the trip on my own, but with a new destination; one that I couldn't bring myself to finish. I had made it all the way but was not ready to see my friend one last time... I'm not sure I ever will be...

I know this is full of rambling, long and drawn out, but I could honestly go on and on... I just wanted to finally share at least a little of the Mike I know so many of us knew...

I know you are gone Mike, but I and many others miss you... You will never be forgotten...

Rest In Peace my Brother...

” — SFC David L George, January 7, 2011 at 8:53 a.m.

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Michael A. DiRaimondo, 22

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16 memories of Michael A. DiRaimondo