Two Fort Drum Soldiers with the 630th Engineer Company, 7th Engineer Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade have lost their lives.
Sergeant First Class Bobby L. Estle, 38, and Private First Class Jose O. Belmontes, 28, were killed in Wardak Province, Afghanistan, on Saturday, July 28th when their unit was attacked by small arms fire.
Sergeant First Class Bobby L. Estle, of Lebanon Ohio, was a combat engineer. He joined the Army in March 1993, and after completing training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, he was stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Fort Jackson, South Carolina and arrived at Fort Drum in January 2010.
SFC Estle deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in March 2003 to June 2004 and November 2005 to November 2006. He again deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in February 2010 to July 2010. SFC Estle additionally deployed with his unit in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in October 2011.
SFC Estle's awards and decorations include:
- Purple Heart
- Bronze Star
- Meritorious Service Medal
- two Army Commendation Medals
- seven Army Achievement Medals
- Navy Achievement Medal
- five Army Good Conduct Medals
- two National Defense Service Medals
- Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two stars
- Iraq Campaign Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
- Humanitarian Service Medal
- three Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbons
- Army Service Ribbon
- four Overseas Service Ribbons
- NATO Medal
- Drill Sergeant Identification Badge
- Combat Action Badge
- Pathfinder Badge
- Air Assault Badge
- Marksmanship Qualification Badge
- Sapper Tab
He also completed the Route Reconnaissance Clearance Leadership course, the Master Fitness Trainer Course, the Senior Leadership course, the Combatives Level 1 course, the Drill Sergeant School, the Pathfinder course, the Battle Staff course, the Rappel Master course, the Advance Leadership course, the Defense Hazardous Materials course, the Manager Development course, the Supervisor Development program, the
Warrior Leadership course, the Air Assault course, the Sapper Leader course, and the Combat Life Savers course.
He is survived by his wife, three children, mother and stepfather.
Private First Class Jose O. Belmontes, of La Verne, California, also lost his life. He was a construction engineer.
SFC Belmontes joined the Army in February 2011, and after completing training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, he arrived at Fort Drum in July 2011. He deployed with his unit in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in October 2011.
SFC Belmontes' awards and decorations include:
- Purple Heart
- Army Achievement Medal
- Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one star
- National Defense Service Medal
- Army Service Ribbon
- Overseas Service Ribbon
- Combat Action Badge
He is survived by his wife, mother and father.
