: 1220558437

Mere weeks after a gaping wound started to heal in the Queens military family with the recovery of Sgt. Alex Jimenez’s body, it was teased and reopened with the deaths of Spec. Jorge Nieves and Army Reserve Spec. Michael Gonzalez.

Nieves, a Queens Village resident and a member of the 3rd Squadron, Third Armored Cavalry Regiment based at Fort Hood, Texas died from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle incident.

“On behalf of the people of Queens, I extend prayers and condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of this young man who at the age of 26 has given his life in service to his country,” Helen Marshall, Queens Borough President said in a statement.

Gonzalez, a member of the United States Army Reserve’s 340th Military Police Company, headquartered at Fort Totten, died when his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device.

More than a year after three soldiers of the 2nd Brigade of the 10th Mountain Division went missing after being captured by terrorists the bodies of Jimemez, 26, and Pvt. Byron Fouty, 19, of Michigan were recovered in July. The body of the third soldier Pfc. Joseph Anzack Jr., 20, California, was found in the Euphrates River.

To honor their service, Governor David Paterson directed flags on state government buildings across New York be flown at half-staff on Sept. 5.

“On behalf of the people of New York, I wish to extend our condolences to the family, friends and fellow soldiers of Spec. Gonzalez and Spec. Nieves,” Paterson said. “Their brave service and heroic sacrifice to our nation will never be forgotten.”

Nieves leaves behind his mother and wife, both of the Dominican Republic.