Army Sgt. Angelo L. Lozada Jr.

Died April 16, 2005 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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36, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Hovey, Korea; killed April 16 while conducting combat operations in Ramadi, Iraq.

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Soldier from Nashua killed in Iraq

Associated Press

NASHUA, N.H. — The last call from Sgt. Angelo Lozada Jr. was a happy one: He was headed home in two weeks.

But this weekend, his family learned that Lozada, 36, was one of three soldiers killed in combat in Ramadi, Iraq.

Lozada was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, based at Camp Hovey, South Korea. Also killed Saturday were Spc. Randy L. Stevens, 21, from Swartz Creek, Mich.; and Sgt. Tromaine K. Toy Sr., 24, from Eastville, Va.

“I miss him already,” said Angelo’s son, Michael, one of his three children. “I would give anything to be able to talk to my dad again.”

The final call came last Wednesday. “He told us he was coming home in two weeks. He wanted us to drive down and pick him up,” his sister, Angela, said, standing outside her parents’ Nashua home Tuesday.

Lozada and his two brothers, Louis and Antonio, joined the reserves after graduating from Easton District High School in Brooklyn, N.Y., but Angelo was the only one to stay. He lived in Nashua after coming out of the reserves and before re-enlisting. He went to Iraq in 2003.

Antonio Lozada said one of the reasons his brother loved the reserves was traveling the world.

“He wanted to travel and he got to. He was gung-ho all the way,” Antonio said.

Angelo also worked with handicapped people and worked for Angela for a while.

On Tuesday, yellow ribbons and bouquets of flowers adorned the porch of the apartment building where he lived.

Family was very important to him, his sister said. His son, Michael, said his father often brought him to the movies and had coached his baseball team when he was little. Two months ago, Angelo became a grandfather.

“He did right for everybody. We were always worried about him, but he was always worried about us,” Angela said.

Angelo’s brother, Louis, said family and friends from California, Puerto Rico, Pennsylvania and New York are on their way to New Hampshire for the funeral.

“They told me they’re going to rent a bus from New York. There’s people coming from everywhere. This is just the beginning,” he said.

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Family, friends gather for fallen soldier’s funeral

BOSCAWEN, N.H. — A Nashua soldier killed in Iraq was laid to rest Tuesday at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery.

Sgt. Angelo Lozada Jr., 36, was one of three soldiers killed on April 16 in Ramadi, Iraq, by a roadside bomb.

A funeral was held at St. Louis de Gonzague Church in Nashua followed by a 45-mile procession to the cemetery. More than 100 family members and friends attended.

Gus Rodriguez, one of Lozada’s five brothers, spoke at the church, referring to Robert Frost’s “The Road Less Traveled,” saying his brother took a road of unselfishness, sacrifice and service.

“He gave his life for us and he is alive in our memories. I love my brother as we all did, and this is not by any stretch of the imagination easy,” said Rodriguez, a pastor in New York City.

Lozada grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., but his brother said he considered New Hampshire to be his home.

Lozada was due home in two weeks, wanting to surprise his mother by returning in time for Mother’s Day, Rodriguez told The Telegraph.

Lozada was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.

Lozada and two of his brothers joined the Army Reserve after graduating from Easton District High School in Brooklyn, N.Y.,

He lived in Nashua after coming out of the reserve and before re-enlisting to go to Iraq in 2003.

Along with his brothers and a large extended family, Lozada also leaves his parents, two sisters, three children and a grandchild whom he never saw.

Lozada was honored with a Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medal, which were presented to his parents, Angelo Sr. and Angela Lozada, at the burial.

— Associated Press