Army Cpl. Ray M. Bevel

Died April 21, 2007 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

22, of Andrews, Texas; assigned to the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.; died April 21 in Yusufiyah, Iraq, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit during combat patrol operations.

Texas soldier killed in Iraq had ties to New Mexico

The Associated Press

HOBBS, N.M. — A soldier with ties to New Mexico has been killed during a combat patrol in Iraq.

The Defense Department announced that Cpl. Ray Michael Bevel, 22, of Andrews, Texas, died April 21 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit in Yusifiyah, just south of Baghdad.

Bevel lived in Hobbs from 1991 to 2000. He moved to Andrews as a sophomore in high school and graduated from high school there in 2003.

His father, Jerry, celebrated his birthday in November with a surprise visit from his son.

“It was the best birthday present I ever had,” the elder Bevel said April 24, his voice breaking up.

Brooke Bevel, the soldier’s 19-year-old wife, said she feels an emptiness since her husband’s death. They were married for 16 months, and her husband was gone about half that time.

“We really didn’t have time to spend together, but he always made me laugh and he was the only person I could talk to and cry,” she said.

Ray Bevel enlisted in 2005.

He was first sent to Iraq in 2006. At the time of his death, he had six months to go on an eight-month tour.

Jerry Bevel said his son called April 19 and talked about being afraid.

“They just didn’t know who they were fighting,” the elder Bevel said. “Like he said one time, ‘We’re just walking around and hoping someone doesn’t kill me.’ He was scared.”

Ray Bevel was promoted to corporal posthumously. He was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, at Fort Drum, New York.