Manuel A. Ruiz

FEDERALSBURG - Manuel Antonio Ruiz, 21, a hospital Corpsman Third Class Petty Officer, died Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2007, as a result of a helicopter crash while defending our freedom in Iraq.

He was born March 19, 1985, in Rota, Spain, the son of Manuel Ruiz and Lisa Harris Ruiz.

He graduated from Colonel Richardson High School, Class of 2003. Manuel joined the United States Navy in May of 2005. He attended Recruit Training and Hospital Corps School in Illinois. From there, he reported to Field Medical Service in North Carolina.

He served as a helicopter paramedic, and was on his second tour of duty in Iraq, responsible for saving the lives of U.S. and allied forces on the ground. He was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal for his dedication to duty, and was also awarded the Purple Heart.

Besides his parents he is survived by two brothers, Joshua Ruiz and Jacob Ruiz, both of Federalsburg; paternal grandfather, Tito Bermudez Caromona of Palma, Canary Islands, Spain.

Friends may call at the Framptom Funeral Home in Federalsburg on Wednesday, from 1 to 3 p.m. There will be a reception following the visitation at Federalsburg VFW on Wednesday at approximately 4 p.m.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, at Arlington National Cemetery. The funeral procession will be leaving at 8 a.m. sharp from the Federalsburg Volunteer Fire Company.

In lieu of flowers, the Ruiz family requests donations be made to the Navy/Marine Corps Relief Society at NMCRS. org to the Fallen Soldiers Fund at FallenSoldiersFund.com.