Young Thalia S. Ramirez.....
A helicopter crash last week in Afghanistan claimed the lives of two Texans, including the first woman from San Antonio to die in combat operations in that war.
Army Chief Warrant Officers 2 Thalia S. Ramirez, 28, of San Antonio died Wednesday while flying an OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, a Defense Department news release stated. The aircraft carries a two-person crew, according to a military website.
Ramirez, a native of Kenya who lived in San Antonio shortly before joining the Army in 2003, initially was a water-purification specialist. In 2008, she became a pilot — one of the most dangerous positions available to women in today's U.S. military.
“Thalia never failed to set the perfect example of a confident and competent warrior. She was fearless, and loved her job. She selflessly risked everything, on a regular basis, in defense of her brothers and sisters in arms,” said Lt. Col. Landy Dunham, a task force commander with the 82nd Airborne Division.
Ramirez had escaped an insurgent attack in June, Chief Warrant Officer Joseph Panza said in the Army release.
“Both aircraft took battle damage, but we continued the flight,” he said. “We took out all the insurgents we could, then contained the enemy with our M-4 (rifles) until we could hand over the fight. That's the kind of warrior Thalia was.”

pioneers like Thalia Ramirez pave the way for other women to serve on the front lines .......don't you think?
isn't that black young beauty a hero?