Hospital holds memorial service for soldier killed in Iraq

MOREHEAD CITY - A photograph from a Christmas Party shows what many of Carteret General Hospital's employees remember most about Carlos Baldeosingh: his smile.

"He was just a happy and go-lucky fellow," said CGH Chief of Security Stephon Gaskill of his friend and colleague.

Sgt. Juan C. "Carlos" Baldeosingh was one of the four soldiers from eastern North Carolina killed last week in Iraq when an improvised explosive device detonated near their Humvee. All four were assigned to the 120th Combined Arms Battalion in Wilmington.

The loss hit hard at Carteret General Hospital in Morehead City, where Baldeosingh worked for five years as a security officer. A private memorial service was held Monday afternoon at the hospital to give employees an opportunity to remember and pay tribute to Baldeosingh.

"We're like a close-knit family; it's a tremendous loss when we lose one of our own," said John Lee, director of the hospital's Department of Risk Management, Safety and Security.

From calming difficult situations to providing interpretive services for the Hispanic community, Baldeosingh was devoted to his duties and did them well, Lee said.

"There was just something about him. He was such a positive, energetic person and a huge asset to the hospital," he said. "He was very passionate about the job and committed to doing the best job that he could."

That same dedication applied to his service to his country, Gaskill said.

Baldeosingh joined the Carteret General Hospital staff after serving in the Marine Corps but had an overwhelming desire to continue military duty and to go to Iraq.

"He felt like he hadn't finished what he started in the Marine Corps; he felt like it was something he needed to do," Gaskill said.

Baldeosingh was on a temporary leave of absence from the hospital and was expected to return to work full time following his tour of duty.

Lee, who was active duty Army, empathizes with the need and the drive to give back.

"His desire was just to be his brother's keeper, his sister's keeper and to keep the soldiers out of harm's way. He just had a desire to be back in military uniform," Lee said.

A National Guard Armory sits just across the street from the hospital, and Rebecca Baldeosingh said her husband saw there the opportunity to return to military service.

"He was for the Marines. He was for the sailors and he was for the soldiers. He was for them all and that's why he went," she said.

Baldeosingh was scheduled to return home this week for a two-week leave and then return to Iraq to finish his tour.

Baldeosingh loved his family - the couple has three daughters: 5-year-old twins and a 2-year-old - and his family stood behind his passion for duty to his country.

"That's where he wanted to be. I understood why he wanted to go," Rebecca Baldeosingh said.

The 120th Combined Arms Battalion is part of North Carolina's 30th Heavy Brigade Combat team headquartered in Clinton. The 30th consists of 4,000 soldiers mainly from North Carolina, with additional troops from West Virginia and Colorado.

The 30th mobilized at the end of last year and left North Carolina in April. It is expected to return from deployment in early 2010.

Rebecca Baldeosingh said a memorial service will be held 5 p.m. Friday at First Baptist Church in Morehead City. Burial will be later at Arlington National Cemetery.

Contact Jannette Pippin at 910-382-2557 or jpippin@freedomenc.com.