Texas Soldiers Thalia S. Ramirez And Jose L. Montenegro Jr. Killed In Helicopter Crash

Two U.S. Army soldiers from Texas died in a helicopter crash last week in Afghanistan.

According to the Department of Defense, 28-year-old Chief Warrant Officer 2 Thalia S. Ramirez of San Antonio and 31-year-old Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jose L. Montenegro Jr. of Houston, died on Sept. 5, when their OH-58D Kiowa Warrior crashed in Logar Province, Afghanistan.

Both were assigned to the 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C. and were nearing the end of their year-long deployment in Afghanistan.

The cause of the crash is yet to be determined but there are reports the chopper was shot down.

Montenegro leaves behind his mother and sister.

Ramirez was originally from Kenya and joined the U.S. Army in 2003 as an enlisted water purification specialist. Ramirez is survived behind her husband, mother and father.