Ralph Anthony Webb Frietas
Sergeant, United States Marine Corps
July 28, 1986 – December 8, 2009
Age – 23
Detroit, MI
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Wing Support Group 17, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan
Died of unspecified cause.
Frietas was a combat engineer who began active duty in the Marine Corps in August 2004. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant in September 2008 and began his tour on Okinawa in June 2009.
“He was a very good Marine, and it always hits hard when you lose one of your Marines,” Maj. Victor A. Chin, the executive officer of Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, said. “He will be missed.”
Frietas received a number of awards, including the Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
The following was a Petition2Congress to uncover the investigation into his death.
Justice and Truth for Marine Sgt. Ralph Freitas
Seeking the truth behind so called “Non-Hostile and Suicides” deaths.
On December 10, 2009, Marine Sergeant Ralph Anthony Webb Freitas, “THE ONLY CHILD OF HIS MOTHER”, was found deceased in his room at Camp Victory, Iraq, Baghdad. This tragedy was immediately assumed a suicide by military investigators. The Army investigators “CID” closed their investigation in full, in three days. Therefore, we know a proper investigation was never performed. After being lied to about even the day of her son’s death Charlene Byrd, Mother, had been denied copies of the crime scene photos three times before they were released. “Trying to spare her grief” as she was told. Once received it was evident why the photos were being withheld. Between the three, knowing Sgt. Freitas, the reports, and crime scene photos prove without a doubt that Sergeant Freitas did not take his life. “It was a homicide and not suicide”.
Sgt. Freitas was at this base less than a month when he was murdered. He was assigned to a base where he worked with Officers. His future plans he spoke of to his mother for sure was not ending his life, but him living life to the fullest and preparing for his life outside the military. He was very ambitious, highly motivated and always did the right thing.
NCIS investigated all over the U.S., for reasons to find Sergeant Freitas at fault, but did no investigation of anyone in Iraq. Not once out of their report could they come up with a motive for him to end his life. Marine Sergeant Freitas’s Mother, Charlene Byrd, family and friends never believed he took his own life. The crime scene photo’s prove this beyond any doubt. Charlene Byrd had solid reasons to doubt the assumption of suicide and she knew that her son had just made major accomplishments in his life, which for those reasons alone, he would not have taken his own life among others. She was speaking with him on a regular basis in Iraq. Not one conversation did Sgt. Freitas show any signs of being stressed or not his usual self. None of his recent positive actions accounted for anything as far as an investigation was concerned.
Sergeant Freitas volunteered for his fifth deployment, a combat promoted veteran and nothing seems to matter or be even considered on his behalf. He was a great Marine and was looking forward to all his future endeavors.
His fellow Marines remembered him as follows:
I served with Ralph on my second deployment with the 11th MEU. He was one of my best friends. I speak to his mother on a regular basis. We all have been trying to find out more information. None of us believe he killed himself. He had just bought land in Hawaii, and had messaged me just a little bit before his life ended. I think about him every day. If there is any way I can help I will.
I knew Ralph. He was my first room mate in the Marine Corps. We became very close and kept in touch after I got out. I know with out a shadow of a doubt that Ralph had high hopes and ambitious goals for his future after the Marine Corps, and this last deployment was to help him prepare for his future plans. I talked to him a few days before his life was taken and there were no signs of negativity. I know whole heartedly Ralph would not have taken his own life.