'I will try to make you proud': 9-year-old daughter of a fallen Green Beret reads a touching letter to her dad during his funeral service

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'I will try to make you proud': 9-year-old daughter of a fallen Green Beret reads a touching letter to her dad during his funeral service

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Luis Deleon-Figueroa

Defense Department

US Army Master Sgt. Luis F. Deleon-Figueroa.

  • The 9-year-old daughter of a Green Beret killed in combat in Afghanistan read a touching letter to her father during a memorial service in Massachusetts on Tuesday.
  • US Army Master Sgt. Luis Deleon-Figueroa, a 31-year-old Puerto Rico native and a Chicopee, Massachusetts, resident, was killed by small arms fire during a joint raid with Afghan forces in the Faryab province of Afghanistan.
  • "I know you're in heaven now, daddy, with my grandma. But I miss you so much," Angie said. "I miss our time together. I'll miss going to the beach and the movie theaters together. I miss your hugs and kisses. I will try to make you proud and behave like you always told me to."
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The 9-year-old daughter of a Green Beret killed in combat in Afghanistan read a touching letter to her father during a memorial service in Massachusetts on Tuesday.

"Dear papi, I miss you a lot. I wish you were still alive," Angie, the daughter of US Army Master Sgt. Luis Deleon-Figueroa said during the service. "It doesn't feel right without you. I want to thank you for being a great hero and a great daddy.

"I know you're in heaven now, daddy, with my grandma. But I miss you so much," Angie said. "I miss our time together. I'll miss going to the beach and the movie theaters together. I miss your hugs and kisses. I will try to make you proud and behave like you always told me to."

Deleon-Figueroa, a 31-year-old Puerto Rico native and a Chicopee, Massachusetts, resident, served in the US Army for over 13 years and was assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). He was killed by small arms fire during a joint raid with Afghan forces in the Faryab province of Afghanistan on August 22.

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"You are forever my papi and know that my mom and family will take care of me. I used to be your angel and now, you're mine," Angie added.

US Army Master Sgt. Jose Gonzalez, 35, was also killed in the raid.

Deleon-Figueroa served six deployments, including to Iraq and a previous deployment to Afghanistan, according to Stars and Stripes.

Fourteen service members have been killed in Afghanistan so far this year. A total of 13 troops were killed in Afghanistan the previous year. Roughly 14,000 US troops are still operating in Afghanistan after invading the country in 2001.

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