Army Special Forces is mourning the loss of Sgt. 1st Class Reymund R. Transfiguracion, 36, who died on Sunday after being wounded in an Aug. 7 improvised explosive device blast Helmand province, Afghanistan, according to 1st Special Forces Command.
- Originally from the Philippines, Transfiguracion joined the Army National Guard in July 2001 as motor transport operator, his official biography says. He deployed from 2005 to 2006 with the Hawaii National Guard, joined the active-duty force in February 2008, and then deployed to Afghanistan from 2008 to 2009. Afterward, he spent six months in the Philippines from 2010 to 2011 as part of Joint Special Operations Task Force – Philippines.
- Transfiguracion was selected for Special Forces while serving as a horizontal construction engineer at Fort Polk, Louisiana. He deployed to Afghanistan in support of the U.S. counterterrorism mission there in March. He received a posthumous promotion to sergeant first class and was awarded his second Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal, and Meritorious Service Medal.
- His other military awards include the Meritorious Unit Commendation, three Army Achievement Medals, three Army Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, two Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbons, two Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbons, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, Army Special Forces Tab, Combat Infantry Badge, Basic Parachutist Badge, and Air Assault Badge.