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Obituary:
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SPC Alexis Vicente Maldonado, 20, of Wichita Falls, died
Saturday, August 21, 2010 while serving his country in
Afghanistan.
The funeral services are pending with
Owens & Brumley Funeral Home of Wichita Falls.
SPC
Alexis Maldonado was born on July 16, 1990 in Wichita Falls,
Texas to Jesse and Alicia Maldonado.
After graduating
high school SPC Maldonado became the proud father of a baby
boy named Isaiah on August 6, 2008.
While continuing
to be a dedicated father SPC Maldonado enlisted in the
United States Army on October 3, 2009.
SPC Maldonado
went to the 35th Engineer Battalion at Fort Leonard Wood,
Missouri where he completed OSUT training for basic training
and AIT.
At the completion of his training he was
awarded the MOS of 21B, Combat Engineer, and assigned to
Fort Hood, Texas where he would eventually be assigned to
the 20th Engineer Battalion, 510th Clearance Company, and
finally 3rd platoon.
While assigned to 3rd Platoon
SPC Maldonado went on to complete many individual, squad,
and platoon level trainings to include Combat Lifesaver
Class and the R2C2 operator classes. In September of 2009
SPC Maldonado deployed with the rest of the 20th Engineer
Battalion to the National Training Center in California to
complete the unit’s readiness training, prior to block leave
and the Battalion’s upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.
SPC Maldonado and his platoon always performed above the
standard receiving many accommodations from the officials at
the training center. Upon returning to Fort Hood SPC
Maldonado had yet another hurdle to overcome before his
company’s deployment.
The entire 510th Clearance
Company was hit with tragedy when their friends, peers, and
battle buddies were wounded on November 5th at Fort Hood’s
Soldier Readiness Site. On January 23, 2010 SPC Maldonado
deployed with the 20th Engineer Battalion, 510th Clearance
Company, 3rd Platoon.
After spending two months at
Kandahar Airfield completing training and helping to build
his platoon vehicle force, the 510th moved to Forward
Operating Base Ramrod. While stationed at FOB Ramrod SPC
Maldonado completed over 100 route clearance missions with
his platoon.
SPC Maldonado would serve as a primary
.50 cal machine gunner and a RG31-MK2 driver; continually
displaying the Army Values in everything he did. SPC
Maldonado had aspirations of eventually ETS’ing from the
Army and using the skills and experience he gained to
further his education at UTI in Dallas, Texas, in order to
study to become a Mechanic. SPC Maldonado could always be
found in his down time either in his room, head nodding back
and forth to his music, or in the gym grinding away with any
weight he could get his hands on.
On August 21, 2010
SPC Maldonado’s life was tragically ended while on a route
clearance patrol on highway one, in Southern Afghanistan.
While moving east along highway one an enemy ambush struck
the rear vehicle where SPC Maldonado was a gunner.
Whether it was trying to build his fitness in the gym or his
ability to bring out not only the best in himself but those
around him, SPC Maldonado was an exemplary Soldier and
person in everything he did. He was a loving and dedicated
father, who enjoyed spending all his time with his son.
He will never be forgotten and greatly missed by all
that knew him.
SPC Maldonado’s awards and decorations
include the following: Bronze Star Medal; Purple Heart; Good
Conduct Metal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan
Campaign Medal with Campaign Star; Global War on Terrorism
Service Medal; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon;
NATO Medal and the Combat Action Badge.
Alexis
enjoyed listening to music, wrestling and playing video
games.
He was preceded in death by his
great-grandparents, David and Maria Maldonado.
Survivors include his parents, Jesse Maldonado and wife,
Linda of Wichita Falls and Alicia Maldonado and husband,
Keith Hastings of Wichita Falls; grandparents, Robert “Bob”
and Irene Butterfield of Wichita Falls; Frank and Rosie
Rodriguez of Wichita Falls; Ruben and Ruth Castillo of
Princeton, Illinois; David Hernandez Everette;
great-grandmother, Jesusa Garcia Aguirre; fiancé, Baronica
Chapa; son, Isaiah Malachi Maldonado; brother, Brad Newlin
and wife, Tia of Wichita Falls; brother, Sergio Maldonado
and wife, Mykeli; sister, Aleksi Marie Maldonado of Wichita
Falls; uncles, Robert Butterfield and wife, Hope, David
Everette, Jr. and wife, Rita and Roy Castillo, all of
Wichita Falls; aunts, Michelle Castaneda and Cristina
Rodriguez, both of Wichita Falls; also many nieces, nephews
and cousins.
Condolences may be sent to the family at
www.owensandbrumley.com.
“All gave some, some
gave all”
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