The identical twins of retired Air Force Capt. Luis A. Carrasquillo Sr. were stationed in Iraq. Now, one twin is back in Goldsboro, N.C., after he flew home to mourn his brother.
Ronnie Carrasquillo, 28, lost his twin brother, Spec. Jocelyn “Joce” L. Carrasquillo, on March 13 when an improvised explosive device hit his vehicle on the main supply route in Iraq. Carrasquillo was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 120th Infantry Regiment, Army National Guard, from Wilmington, N.C., according to the Department of Defense.
Carrasquillo had been in Iraq for nearly a year. His family has questions about Carrasquillo’s death, and they have contacted two congressmen to call for a more thorough investigation.
“They told us that he died in the position of a gunner,” his father said. “But I can’t understand why that was the case, because he was trained as a supply officer.”
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The close-knit Puerto Rican family is having a difficult time dealing with the loss, but no one more than Ronnie, said Luis A. Carrasquillo Jr., his brother.
“They were identical twins and spent all their time together. They were just inseparable,” he said. “Ronnie’s lost his other half.”
Carrasquillo was studying to be an occupational therapist at two community colleges in Wilmington when he was called to service. He also held a job at the Sam’s Club discount warehouse.
Family members said that Carrasquillo had a long record of community service. “He was such a people person. He wanted to work with kids and did things for senior citizens and the disabled,” his brother, Luis, said.
They also remember Carrasquillo for his confidence on the dance floor. “He loved to go out clubbing and would dance even if he were the only one out there,” his brother said.
Carrasquillo’s father said his son died doing what he was proud to do. “He was so happy that he was going to go fight,” he said.
Master Sgt. Thomas R. Thigpen, Sr., 52, spoke to his wife from Iraq at 6 a.m. every day. The day before he died, Thigpen and his wife, Theresa, had been talking about a cruise to the Caribbean.
The cruise was to be a chance for the couple to relax after Thigpen returned from Iraq on April 20, his wife said.
He died on March 16, in Camp Virginia, Kuwait, of non-combat related injuries. Thigpen was assigned to the Army National Guard, 151st Signal Battalion, from Greenville, S.C.
Army officials told his family that Thigpen died of a heart attack after a game of touch football.
“He died doing what he loved, I guess,” his wife said. “He spent a lot of free time refereeing basketball, football, everything at Ft. Gordon.”
Thigpen spent almost 21 years in the National Guard and planned to retire after his tour in Iraq. “He knew that those 18-year-old boys were relying on his leadership,” his wife said.
Thigpen enjoyed helping young men achieve their goals and particularly enjoyed being a Cub Scout leader in his civilian life, his wife said.
He was involved in the military much of his life. After graduating from Evans High School in Martinez, Ga., he joined the Marines for four years. Thigpen worked at the base in Ft. Gordon, Ga., for 34 years.
Thigpen was a regular runner and golfer, she said.
“I guess I’m going to have to spend the next few months on my knees praying for guidance,” his wife said. “I wasn’t expecting this.”