Fil-Am Army Green Beret dies in Afghanistan

MANILA, Philippines — A Filipino-American member of the US Army’s Green Berets has died from wounds sustained in an improvised explosive device attack in southern Afghanistan.

Staff Sgt. Reymund Rarogal Transfiguracion, 36, of Waikoloa, Hawaii, sustained injuries while on combat patrol in Helmand province in southern Afghanistan on Aug. 7, according to ABC News.

Born in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, Transfiguracion enlisted in the Hawaii National Guard in July 2001, serving as a motor transport operator. 

In 2008, the Green Beret was deployed to Afghanistan and the Philippines with the US Special Operations task force.

Transfiguracion was selected for Special Forces training after returning from those two deployments and was assigned as engineer sergeant to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group of Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington.

He was deployed to Afghanistan in March 2018. 

Members of the US Army’s Special Forces are also called Green Berets because of the distinctive military headgear they wear. 

Transfiguracion’s awards and decorations include the Meritorious Unit Commendation, Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts, Meritorious Service Medal, three Army Achievement Medals, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Combat Action Badge, Special Forces Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, Basic Parachutist Badge and Air Assault Badge, the Army Times reported. 

He was posthumously promoted to sergeant first class and awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Meritorious Service Medal.

According to reports, Transfiguracion was the fifth American military service member to be killed in Afghanistan this year.