Ozone Park Mourns Local Soldier Following Fatal Attack in Jordan

The U.S. Army has released a photograph of Sgt. Angel Rampersad, a 28-year-old Ozone Park resident who is believed to have been killed during an enemy missile attack on July 17, 2026. Rampersad, who served as a Signal Operations Support Specialist, had previously been listed as missing following the strike at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan.

Assigned to the 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, based in Ansbach, Germany, Rampersad enlisted in 2019. Her service record includes the Army Commendation Medal and the Army Good Conduct Medal. Brig. Gen. Glenn Henke, commanding general of the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, expressed condolences to the soldier's family and colleagues, noting that the command is currently processing the loss.

In response to the news, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani issued a statement on Wednesday honoring the sacrifice of the Queens native. "Sgt. Rampersad's courage and sacrifice will be remembered not just in Queens, but across all five boroughs," Mamdani stated, adding that the tragedy serves as a reminder of the personal toll of overseas conflicts on local families. Neighbors in Ozone Park have begun placing flags on 96th Street in anticipation of a dignified transfer.

The incident at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base is currently under investigation. Rampersad’s death is one of several recent fatalities reported among U.S. forces in the region. The Pentagon has also identified Pfc. Isabella Gonzales and 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan as casualties from the same attack in Jordan. Additionally, Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton died in Iraq on Sunday during a controlled detonation of a downed drone, an event the Department of Defense is also investigating.

These events have prompted renewed scrutiny regarding the vulnerability of U.S. base infrastructure in the Middle East. Many installations currently rely on structures originally designed for earlier, less intensive conflicts, which may offer limited protection against modern aerial threats. President Donald Trump is expected to attend the dignified transfer ceremony for the fallen service members at Dover Air Force Base.