Juan Sebastián Restrepo

Juan Sebastián Restrepo (October 7, 1986 – July 22, 2007) was a Colombian-American soldier and medic. Restrepo was killed in the Korengal Valley in Afghanistan, of neck wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small-arms fire. He was honored in Restrepo, nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 83rd Academy Awards.

Early life and family

Restrepo was born in Neiva, Huila, Colombia. His mother, Marcela Pardo, a physical therapist, named him after the composer Johann Sebastian Bach. He rarely saw his father Gerardo Restrepo Ramirez, a pediatric neurologist, after his parents separated when he was 2. He had an older brother named Ivan, and a younger brother, Pablo.

In 1993, Pardo and her sons immigrated to the United States, first living in Miami Gardens, Florida. Two years later they moved to Pembroke Pines. Juan was very active in sports, boxing, playing soccer and skateboarding. He attended Charles W. Flanagan High School, graduating in 2004. He planned to be a doctor, like his father and grandfather. After his girlfriend became pregnant with his child, he returned to the United States and enlisted in the military. He returned to Colombia for the birth of his daughter, Ariana. He lifted his head to see if anyone was injured, and took two bullets to the face and neck. He stayed semi-conscious, trying to instruct his fellow soldiers what to do for him. He was stable when he boarded the medevac helicopter, but died of wounds before arriving at the hospital.

Honors On October 21, 2016, the city of Pembroke Pines honored him by renaming a portion of Northwest 129th Avenue, between Pines Boulevard and Taft Street, as Pfc. Juan Sebastian Restrepo Avenue. A public ceremony was held at the Pembroke Pines Aquatic Center and included a presentation of colors by the United States Army Color Guard.

Awards

Restrepo was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Basic Parachutist Badge and the Combat Medical Badge.