Restrepo, Juan Sebastian
U.S. Army Private First Class Juan Sebastian Restrepo, 20, of Pembroke Pines, Florida, was killed in action on July 22, 2007, in the Korengal Valley, Afghanistan.
Their Story
Juan Sebastian Restrepo was a 20-year-old soldier from Pembroke Pines, Florida. He served as a Private First Class with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
On July 22, 2007, Restrepo was part of a U.S. patrol in the Korengal Valley of Kunar Province, a region known for intense insurgent activity. According to military reports, the unit came under enemy small-arms fire. Restrepo was fatally wounded during this engagement. The outpost where he was stationed was later named Combat Outpost Restrepo in his honor.
Restrepo's death occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. By 2007, the conflict had entered a phase of heightened violence, with Taliban and other insurgent forces regrouping. The remote Korengal Valley, where Restrepo's unit operated, was a frequent site of direct combat and ambushes.
Following his death, his family and fellow soldiers mourned his loss. The naming of Combat Outpost Restrepo served as an immediate, on-the-ground memorial for his unit. His story was later documented in the 2010 award-winning war documentary film 'Restrepo,' which chronicled the deployment of his platoon over a 15-month period.
His legacy is primarily tied to the outpost that bore his name and the film that brought the experiences of his unit to a wide audience. The documentary provided a visceral, ground-level view of the war, with Restrepo remembered by his comrades as a skilled and dedicated combat medic.
Explore Further
Juan Sebastian Restrepo was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–2014). The conflict concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.
