Angel Sarah Rampersad, of Queens, Army staff sergeant killed in Iranian attack in Jordan, remembered as a 'real hero'

Mourners bade farewell on Friday morning in Queens to U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Angel Sarah Rampersad, remembered not only for her courage as a soldier, but also as a devoted daughter, sister and friend who made her mark on the world.

Rampersad, 28, was killed this month, along with two other soldiers, during an Iranian missile attack on an air base in Jordan. She had served in the Army for seven years, stationed in Hawaii and Germany, before she was deployed to Jordan to assist with the Iran war.

Her U.S. flag-draped coffin was led on Friday morning into Calvary Assembly of God Church in Ozone Park.

The service was mixed with laughter and tears as friends and family remembered the goofy, yet determined, young woman who wanted to join the Army when she was 18 but was told by her mother to wait until she was 21.

"Behind that uniform was so much more than a soldier," her sister, Laura Tamby, said. "Behind that uniform was a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a cherished friend and a beloved member of her family."

"Behind that uniform was a woman with a beautiful spirit, someone who could make you laugh, encourage you when you needed it and bring its warmth into our lives for those who are around her," Tamby said.

Rampersad, whom friends and relatives called Sarah, was born in Trinidad and came to the United States when she was 2½ with her mother and older sister.

She went to school in Queens, graduating from Forest Hills High School and John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Rampersad devoted herself to church youth groups, including by playing drums for Kingdom Life Ministries in Richmond Hill.

The funeral service included spiritual songs and blessings. Pastor David Yankana said Rampersad devoted her life to helping others and following her dreams.

"She lived fully. She lived meaningfully, and she lived purposefully," he said.

Big sister to all

Friends remembered how she liked to joke and how she was willing to be a big sister to those who needed her.

Her family said she joined the Army to see the world, but she also wanted to make the world a better place. She served with her wife in Jordan.

"She wanted her life to stand for something. She wanted to serve others, and she did," Tamby said. "Her courage reminds us that true heroism is not measured by words alone, but by actions, sacrifice and commitment to others. No words can erase the pain of all loss, but Sarah's sacrifice will never be forgotten."

Rampersad was killed on July 17 during an Iranian drone and missile attack at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. She was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 10th Army Air & Missile Defense Command in Ansbach, Germany.

She was given a posthumous promotion to staff sergeant.

Also killed in the attack were 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas.

'A real hero'

U.S. Brig. Gen. Glenn Henke, commander of the Army's missile and defense command in Germany, said he learned about Rampersad's legacy from her colleagues. She had recently served as a mentor to Gonzales, Henke said.

"We still don't know what happened in the final moments," Henke said. "Knowing what we know about Staff Sgt. Rampersad, I'd like to believe that she spent her last minutes helping a young private try to help her get to safety, putting others before herself."

The service included members of her church youth group, family, friends and elected officials, including Gov. Kathy Hochul. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also attended the service.

Rampersad's mother, Carol Acevedo, sobbed as the funeral concluded with tributes and memories of her daughter.

"My daughter was a real hero and I will miss her dearly," Acevedo said from the altar. "Love your kids, hug them. I don't have mine to hug anymore.

"Embrace them, cherish them and be there for them. They will need guidance."

A procession of NYPD motorcycles led Rampersad's hearse and her family to Long Island National Cemetery, Pinelawn.

During a solemn ceremony, her family was presented American flags while a trumpet player played taps, followed by a rifle team's three-shot salute. 

Her family covered her coffin in roses as they wept at her graveside on Friday.