Master Sgt. Luis F. DeLeon Figueroa died August 21, 2019, in Afghanistan. He was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico on August 23, 1987. Luis was a resident of Chicopee Mass, attended Chicopee Public Schools. He served in the Army for more than 13 years. He became a Green Beret in 2014. Member of 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Valor, Army Commendation Medal (2OLC), Army Achievement Medal (3OLC), Army Good Conduct Medal with four Knot Device, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral “3”, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral “3”, NATO Medal, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Military Free Fall Jumpmaster Badge, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge. He was the son of the late Angie Irene Figueroa. He leaves behind his grandmother Teresa Bosque of Chicopee, sister Terenz DeLeón, Brother in law Ernie Garcia, children Angie De Leon and Nailah De Leon, long time girlfriend: Krystle Adames, stepdaughter Alyse Mercado, niece Enaidi Garcia and nephew Ernie Garcia Jr., uncle Roberto Figueroa, foster parents Bill & Lisa Campbell and foster siblings Lindsey Gamble, Ryan, Jonathan and Riley Campbell. Luis was a devoted father and always took care of those he loved especially his grandmother, Teresa Bosque. Luis always had the desire to enter the service. He was proud to be an American. He loved life and all it had to offer him. Luis once defined happiness as “being with loved ones and enjoying each day and living the simple life”. His fellow servicemen were his family members away from home and he was especially grateful for the relationships he had with them. Luis’ daughters were the highlight of his life. He was very proud to be a father. Sports played an important role in Luis’ life. He was a fantastic athlete and started sports at a very young age with the Chicopee Braves. He loved playing football and basketball. He was a fan of Patriots and the Red Sox. Sundays were spent watching football games and eating a home-cooked meal. He was a very humble person with a loud personality that loved to make people laugh at his pranks. He will forever be remembered by all those who knew him and loved him. Until we meet again Luis. The funeral service will be Tuesday at 9:30 am at the Bethany Assembly of God Church, 580 Main St., Agawam, MA followed by burial with full Military Honors at the Mass Veteran’s Cemetery in Agawam. Calling hours at the West Springfield Curran-Jones Funeral Home will be Monday from 3:00 to 7:00 pm. For more information please go to curranjones.com.
[Published in The Springfield Republican, Springfield, MASS., on Aug. 31, 2019]
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CHICOPEE, Mass. - One of two special forces soldiers that were killed in Afghanistan yesterday has been identified as a 31-year-old Chicopee resident.
According to Lt. Col. Loren Bymer, Master Sgt. Luis F. Deleon-Figueroa, a 31-year-old Chicopee resident, and 35-year-old Master Sgt. Jose J. Gonzalez of La Puente, California were killed while in the line of duty on Wednesday, August 21, in Faryab Province, Afghanistan.
Both Deleon-Figueroa and Gonzalez were assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
Deleon-Figueroa served more than thirteen years in the army and had been deployed six times during his career.
In 2008, he was deployed as an infantryman to Iraq.
Two years after he was deployed to Iraq, Deleon-Figueroa was deployed as an infantryman to Afghanistan.
As a Green Beret, he was deployed to South America in 2015 and 2018, and then to Afghanistan in 2018 and 2019.
Deleon-Figueroa was awarded the following during his 13-year career:
Bronze Star Medal
Army Commendation Medal with Valor
Army Commendation (2OLC)
Army Achievement Medal (3OLC)
Army Good Conduct Medal with four Knot Device
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars
Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral "3"
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral "3"
NATO medal
Special Forces Tab
Ranger Tab
Combat Infantryman Badge
Expert Infantryman Badge
Military Free Fall Jumpmaster Badge
Parachutist Badge
Air Assault Badge
Deleon-Figueroa was posthumously promoted to Master Sergeant.
He was also awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, and others following his death.
[Western Mass News]
[Published in The Springfield Republican, Springfield, MASS., on Aug. 31, 2019]
- - - - -
CHICOPEE, Mass. - One of two special forces soldiers that were killed in Afghanistan yesterday has been identified as a 31-year-old Chicopee resident.
According to Lt. Col. Loren Bymer, Master Sgt. Luis F. Deleon-Figueroa, a 31-year-old Chicopee resident, and 35-year-old Master Sgt. Jose J. Gonzalez of La Puente, California were killed while in the line of duty on Wednesday, August 21, in Faryab Province, Afghanistan.
Both Deleon-Figueroa and Gonzalez were assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
Deleon-Figueroa served more than thirteen years in the army and had been deployed six times during his career.
In 2008, he was deployed as an infantryman to Iraq.
Two years after he was deployed to Iraq, Deleon-Figueroa was deployed as an infantryman to Afghanistan.
As a Green Beret, he was deployed to South America in 2015 and 2018, and then to Afghanistan in 2018 and 2019.
Deleon-Figueroa was awarded the following during his 13-year career:
Bronze Star Medal
Army Commendation Medal with Valor
Army Commendation (2OLC)
Army Achievement Medal (3OLC)
Army Good Conduct Medal with four Knot Device
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars
Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral "3"
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral "3"
NATO medal
Special Forces Tab
Ranger Tab
Combat Infantryman Badge
Expert Infantryman Badge
Military Free Fall Jumpmaster Badge
Parachutist Badge
Air Assault Badge
Deleon-Figueroa was posthumously promoted to Master Sergeant.
He was also awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, and others following his death.
[Western Mass News]
Master Sgt. Luis F. DeLeon Figueroa died August 21, 2019, in Afghanistan. He was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico on August 23, 1987. Luis was a resident of Chicopee Mass, attended Chicopee Public Schools. He served in the Army for more than 13 years. He became a Green Beret in 2014. Member of 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Valor, Army Commendation Medal (2OLC), Army Achievement Medal (3OLC), Army Good Conduct Medal with four Knot Device, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral “3”, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral “3”, NATO Medal, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Military Free Fall Jumpmaster Badge, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge. He was the son of the late Angie Irene Figueroa. He leaves behind his grandmother Teresa Bosque of Chicopee, sister Terenz DeLeón, Brother in law Ernie Garcia, children Angie De Leon and Nailah De Leon, long time girlfriend: Krystle Adames, stepdaughter Alyse Mercado, niece Enaidi Garcia and nephew Ernie Garcia Jr., uncle Roberto Figueroa, foster parents Bill & Lisa Campbell and foster siblings Lindsey Gamble, Ryan, Jonathan and Riley Campbell. Luis was a devoted father and always took care of those he loved especially his grandmother, Teresa Bosque. Luis always had the desire to enter the service. He was proud to be an American. He loved life and all it had to offer him. Luis once defined happiness as “being with loved ones and enjoying each day and living the simple life”. His fellow servicemen were his family members away from home and he was especially grateful for the relationships he had with them. Luis’ daughters were the highlight of his life. He was very proud to be a father. Sports played an important role in Luis’ life. He was a fantastic athlete and started sports at a very young age with the Chicopee Braves. He loved playing football and basketball. He was a fan of Patriots and the Red Sox. Sundays were spent watching football games and eating a home-cooked meal. He was a very humble person with a loud personality that loved to make people laugh at his pranks. He will forever be remembered by all those who knew him and loved him. Until we meet again Luis. The funeral service will be Tuesday at 9:30 am at the Bethany Assembly of God Church, 580 Main St., Agawam, MA followed by burial with full Military Honors at the Mass Veteran’s Cemetery in Agawam. Calling hours at the West Springfield Curran-Jones Funeral Home will be Monday from 3:00 to 7:00 pm. For more information please go to curranjones.com.
[Published in The Springfield Republican, Springfield, MASS., on Aug. 31, 2019]
- - - - -
CHICOPEE, Mass. - One of two special forces soldiers that were killed in Afghanistan yesterday has been identified as a 31-year-old Chicopee resident.
According to Lt. Col. Loren Bymer, Master Sgt. Luis F. Deleon-Figueroa, a 31-year-old Chicopee resident, and 35-year-old Master Sgt. Jose J. Gonzalez of La Puente, California were killed while in the line of duty on Wednesday, August 21, in Faryab Province, Afghanistan.
Both Deleon-Figueroa and Gonzalez were assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
Deleon-Figueroa served more than thirteen years in the army and had been deployed six times during his career.
In 2008, he was deployed as an infantryman to Iraq.
Two years after he was deployed to Iraq, Deleon-Figueroa was deployed as an infantryman to Afghanistan.
As a Green Beret, he was deployed to South America in 2015 and 2018, and then to Afghanistan in 2018 and 2019.
Deleon-Figueroa was awarded the following during his 13-year career:
Bronze Star Medal
Army Commendation Medal with Valor
Army Commendation (2OLC)
Army Achievement Medal (3OLC)
Army Good Conduct Medal with four Knot Device
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars
Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral "3"
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral "3"
NATO medal
Special Forces Tab
Ranger Tab
Combat Infantryman Badge
Expert Infantryman Badge
Military Free Fall Jumpmaster Badge
Parachutist Badge
Air Assault Badge
Deleon-Figueroa was posthumously promoted to Master Sergeant.
He was also awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, and others following his death.
[Western Mass News]
[Published in The Springfield Republican, Springfield, MASS., on Aug. 31, 2019]
- - - - -
CHICOPEE, Mass. - One of two special forces soldiers that were killed in Afghanistan yesterday has been identified as a 31-year-old Chicopee resident.
According to Lt. Col. Loren Bymer, Master Sgt. Luis F. Deleon-Figueroa, a 31-year-old Chicopee resident, and 35-year-old Master Sgt. Jose J. Gonzalez of La Puente, California were killed while in the line of duty on Wednesday, August 21, in Faryab Province, Afghanistan.
Both Deleon-Figueroa and Gonzalez were assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
Deleon-Figueroa served more than thirteen years in the army and had been deployed six times during his career.
In 2008, he was deployed as an infantryman to Iraq.
Two years after he was deployed to Iraq, Deleon-Figueroa was deployed as an infantryman to Afghanistan.
As a Green Beret, he was deployed to South America in 2015 and 2018, and then to Afghanistan in 2018 and 2019.
Deleon-Figueroa was awarded the following during his 13-year career:
Bronze Star Medal
Army Commendation Medal with Valor
Army Commendation (2OLC)
Army Achievement Medal (3OLC)
Army Good Conduct Medal with four Knot Device
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars
Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral "3"
Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral "3"
NATO medal
Special Forces Tab
Ranger Tab
Combat Infantryman Badge
Expert Infantryman Badge
Military Free Fall Jumpmaster Badge
Parachutist Badge
Air Assault Badge
Deleon-Figueroa was posthumously promoted to Master Sergeant.
He was also awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, and others following his death.
[Western Mass News]
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