Maria I. Ortiz Obituary - Death Notice and Service Information

LOCATION

Bayamon, Puerto Rico

A smile rarely left Maria Ines Ortiz's face. It shone on her Army patients, on her nursing colleagues and, memorably, on her future fiance. "She had this smile, this aura," said Juan Casiano. "She wanted to make sure she got to know you and wanted to make sure you enjoyed her company." Ortiz, 40, of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, was killed July 10 by a mortar attack in Baghdad. She was stationed at Aberdeen Proving Ground and was the first nurse killed in combat since the Vietnam War. Ortiz enlisted in 1991 as a medical surgical nurse. In all her assignments, she welcomed patients, even as they trickled in at closing hour, and checked up on them long after they left her care. "If there was such a thing as the jewel of the clinic, she was the jewel," said Renee Smith, who worked with Ortiz. Ortiz volunteered to go to Iraq, and asked a colleague to send Christmas decorations to brighten up the halls of the hospital. "She's the person that I want to be like, not because she was a soldier or a nurse, but because she accomplished her purpose in life," said Maria Luisa Medina, Ortiz's twin sister. She also is survived by her father, Jorge Ortiz, and her mother, Iris Santiago.

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Maria and family, I worked with you at the CSH. I took care of the Local Nationals and you were always an amazing sight to see. A beautiful smile; always comforting. I remember that day 10 July and always will. The sirens and incoming were relentless. I never knew it would take someone I knew and admired. Today, we were asked to put personnel on a memorial wall to honor the fallen. There are so many that lost their life and I wish I could recognize all; but you are always first and...

Jennifer Weathers

May 18, 2022 | Work

Scott May,
My team and I responded to comfort her coworkers. I removed the event as I listened to her team's description of it during the critical event debriefing. There was nothing you could've done. You did not fail. She was a great professional and soldier. RIP CPT Ortiz

MAJ Diaz, US Army Ret.
113 th Combat Stress Control Medical Company

Raul Diaz

January 07, 2019 | West Palm Beach, FL | Coworker

Maria,

We met for the moments fleeting of moments on that day in Iraq, I was deployed with the Australian Security Detachment in Bagdhad and was caught in the same attack. I remember running across the road to your aid, I was the first one to you and I did the best I could to comfort you, as you did for so many.

Although I never served with you I had the honourof meeting you, how lucky your family werd to have you in thier life and my heart goes out to them, I feel as...

Scott MAY

January 06, 2019 | Toowoomba, QLD, Australia | Acquaintance

Remembering your great story today and always. Thanks for everything you and CSH soldiers did.
SFC Ortiz OIF 06-07
MNSTC-I J3 (Rough Riders)

SFC Ortiz

May 23, 2017 | Charlotte, NC

Rest in peace my inspirational leader and mentor!

Jannette Ramos

May 25, 2015 | Kissimmee, FL

Cpt. Ortiz

I served with you in Soto Cano, Honduras. I will always remember you. I have nice memories of how you were always available for your soldiers. You encouraged me to excel during physical training exercises (PT). We even have some road marches together. You will always be remember as an
inspirational leader. Also, I remember the times we had breakfast together with our Medel Clinic group. You use to encouraged me in so many ways. May you rest in peace! I will never...

Jannette Ramos

May 25, 2015 | Kissimmee, FL

We miss you Mary... your sis

Norma Ortiz Santiago

March 08, 2015 | ORLANDO, FL

Not a day pass by with out me thinking about you, rest in peace. Always in my heart and never forgotten... I love and miss you!

Juan Casiano (fiancé)

July 13, 2014 | Edgewood, MD

Thinking of you Maria, wishing you were here, wishing you peace, such a wonderful friend, big hug to you??
"Q"

Christine Quintana

July 10, 2014 | Fayetteville, NC

Capt. Maria I. Ortiz

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