2/8/2004
SSG Richard P. Ramey was killed on 8 February 2004. SSG Ramey was assigned to the 703rd Ordnance Company (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), 184th Ordnance Battalion (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), 52nd Ordnance Group (Explosive Ordnance Disposal). SSG Ramey was supporting the 82nd Airborne Division when an improvised explosive device detonated in al-Mahmudiyah, Iraq. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal team was on the way to conduct a post-blast analysis south of al-Mahmudiyah when the team’s security element’s Non-Commission Officer in charge saw what he thought was detonating cord coming from a five-gallon can along the road. They decided to stop on the way back to investigate further. On the way back from the first incident they stopped, set up perimeter and used the robot to investigate the item. The team used robot to pull the detonating cord from the can. SSG Ramey went down on foot to place a disruptor charge on the can. The disrupter charge functioned and SSG Ramey went back down on foot to examine the device. The can was severed and the trigger device was thrown 30 meters away. SSG Ramey knelt down at the original can’s location when a detonation occurred from a buried secondary device that was composed of a projectile. SSG Ramey was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster.
*This bio was researched and authored by SGM Mike R.Vining, USA (Retired). Please send any additional information and/or corrections to the author of this bio by email: sgmmvining@gmail.com. The EOD Wounded Warrior Foundation is not responsible for the accuracy of the information in bio.