Army Staff Sgt. Ronald J. Spino
Death: Dec 29, 2009
of Waterbury Conn.; assigned to the 274th Forward Surgical Team 44th Medical Command Fort Bragg N.C.; Died Dec. 29 in Herat Afghanistan of wounds suffered when he was shot while unloading supplies. Bragg medic killed in Afghanistan The Associated Press FORT BRAGG N.C. — A 45-year-old Fort Bragg soldier has been killed while unloading medical supplies in a village in northwestern Afghanistan. Military officials say Staff Sgt. Ronald Jay Spino from Waterbury Conn. Died Dec. 29 in Bala Morghab a village in Badghis province. Spino was assigned to the 44th Medical Command at Fort Bragg. He returned from Iraq in February and deployed to Afghanistan in November. Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell says Spino was expected to return from Afghanistan in about 30 days and ordered flags in the state lowered to half-staff. Spino was remembered by friends in his unit as a quiet hardworking soldier with a good sense of humor. ‘Blossomed’ after joining Army The Associated Press Ronald Spino was a hardworking but shy man who “blossomed” when he joined the military his mother said. “It was his true love” Rita Spino said. For a time he worked in the records room of Waterbury Hospital in Waterbury Conn. where co-workers said he went out of his way to help others. The same held true in the military. “For those who knew and worked with him we will remember him as a dedicated non-commissioned officer” said Col. Scott Putzier one of Spino’s superiors. “He was quiet so when he spoke everyone listened and were often caught off guard by his sense of humor. ... He was really funny.” Spino45 of Fayetteville N.C. Died Dec. 29 in Bala Morghab Afghanistan when he was shot while unloading supplies. He was assigned to Fort Bragg N.C. and lived in Waterbury before joining the military. The combat nurse graduated from Holy Cross High School and Teikyo Post University now known as Post University. He joined the Army in 1993 at age 29 becoming a medic. He later trained as a nurse and then became a paratrooper and was sometimes called upon to parachute into war-ravaged areas to treat wounded soldiers his mother said. Spino is survived by his wife Betty whom he met while he was in the military; a stepdaughter Kandice 24; his mother and father; two brothers; and a sister.Operation Enduring Freedom