Bigai Baez, Rafael Enrique

Sergeant Rafael Enrique Bigai Baez was a 28-year-old soldier from San Juan, Puerto Rico. He served on active duty with the United States Army, assigned to Company C, 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, part of the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team based at Fort Polk, Louisiana.

On September 23, 2011, Sergeant Bigai Baez was killed in Wardak province, Afghanistan. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, his death was the result of hostile action. He was one of at least four U.S. service members reported killed in Afghanistan on that date.

His death occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. In 2011, the conflict was in its tenth year, with U.S. and allied forces engaged in counterinsurgency operations and training Afghan national security forces.

The Army announced his death in a press release. He was posthumously promoted from the rank of Specialist to Sergeant. His remains were returned to the United States.

Sergeant Bigai Baez is memorialized on the Afghanistan War Memorial at Fort Polk and on online veterans' memorials. His name is inscribed on Panel 2W, Line 127 of the Afghanistan War Memorial at the National Infantry Museum.

Sergeant Bigai Baez 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.

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