2 Soldiers die in Afghanistan

82nd Abn. Div. and 44th MEDCOM

	Ware

Two Fort Bragg Soldiers died in Afghanistan while serving in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in late December.

Sgt. Albert Ware, Company F, 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division died of injuries suffered when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device in the Kandahar province during a combat logistics patrol Dec. 18.

Sgt. Ronald Jay Spino with the 44th Medical Command was shot while unloading medical supplies in Bala Morghab, a village in Badghis province, in northwestern Afghanistan Dec. 29. The incident is under investigation.

	Spino

Ware, a 27-year-old native of Chicago, Ill, joined the Army as a motor transport operator July 6, 2006 and attended basic training and advanced individual training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. He completed the Basic Airborne School at Fort Benning, Ga. and was assigned to the 782nd Brigade Support Battalion at Fort Bragg, in November 2006. He served with the unit during its 15-month deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from January 2007 to April 2008.

“Sergeant Ware was loved and respected by all personnel in his platoon,” said Sgt. First Class Kalep Rivers, Ware’s platoon sergeant. “He will be truly missed.”

He is survived by his wife Pleshette Farmer-Ware, his son, John, his daughter Heaven Ferguson, his daughter Musu Cawtain, his father Thomas Ware and his mother Massa Cooper. 
Spino, a 45-year-old native Waterbury, Conn., was assigned to the 274th Forward Surgical Team as a licensed practical nurse.

“Staff Sergeant Spino was a hardworking, diligent airborne combat medic,” said Col. Scott Putzier, chief of staff, 44th Medical Command. “For those who knew and worked with him, we will remember him as a dedicated noncommissioned officer. He was quiet, so when he spoke, everyone listened and were often caught off guard by his sense of humor … he was really funny.”

Spino deployed with his unit to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in February 2009, and was re-missioned to Afghanistan in support of OEF in November.
He is survived by his wife and step-daughter.