A Life of Service: Remembering Sgt. Angelo Lozada Jr.

Sgt. Angelo L. Lozada Jr. lived a life marked by service, family, and unwavering dedication to others. At 36, he was nearing the end of a deployment in Iraq when his life was cut short during combat operations in Ramadi on April 16, 2005. He was just two weeks away from coming home.

Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Lozada had made Nashua, New Hampshire, his home. After graduating from Easton District High School, he and his two brothers joined the Army Reserve. While his siblings eventually moved on, Angelo stayed the course. His love for the military was rooted not just in a sense of duty, but in his desire to see the world. “He wanted to travel, and he got to,” his brother Antonio said. “He was gung-ho all the way.”

In 2003, Lozada re-enlisted and deployed to Iraq, where he served with the 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, based in South Korea. During his time in the service, he earned multiple honors, including the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Army Commendation Medal.

But for those who knew him best, Lozada’s greatest role was within his family. A devoted father of three and a recent grandfather, he was a constant presence in his children’s lives—coaching baseball, sharing movie nights, and making time despite the demands of military life. His final phone call home was full of joy and anticipation: he planned to surprise his mother by arriving in time for Mother’s Day.

“He did right for everybody,” said his sister Angela. “We were always worried about him, but he was always worried about us.”

Lozada’s funeral brought family and friends from across the country, gathering in Nashua to remember the man who gave so much. His brother, Gus Rodriguez, a pastor, spoke at the service, quoting Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken,” describing Angelo’s path as one of “unselfishness, sacrifice, and service.”

Laid to rest at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery, Sgt. Angelo Lozada Jr. is remembered not only for his military accomplishments, but for the love he showed his family and the lives he touched through his kindness, courage, and commitment. His legacy continues in the memories of those who knew him—and in the ideals he lived for.

Source:  Army Sgt. Angelo L. Lozada Jr.” Military Times, https://thefallen.militarytimes.com/army-sgt-angelo-l-lozada-jr/796541. Accessed 28 May 2025.