Third Infantry Division soldier Staff Sgt. Amilcar H. Gonzalez has been posthumously awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star.
Gonzalez, 26, a native of Miami, Fla., was shot and killed May 21 in Ash Shura, Iraq, when insurgents attacked his unit. A “tanker,” he was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd ID at Fort Stewart.
Gonzalez joined the Army on Sept. 17, 2001, and arrived at Fort Stewart in April 2002, according to Fort Stewart spokesperson Kevin Larson.
“He had four deployments,” Larson said. He did not have information as to why Gonzalez will receive the medals.
1-64 Armor Commander Lt. Col. Ross Coffman wrote this sad message from Iraq Monday on the battalion’s Facebook page:
“I write you tonight with heavy heart due to the passing of Staff Sgt. Amilcar Gonzalez. He was a leader, warrior, soldier and friend to the entire Desert Rogue Family. He will be missed by all of us. Soon we will conduct the memorial service in Iraq and will all mourn together. Please keep Staff Sgt. Gonzalez’s family and the Desert Rogues in your thoughts and prayers. We continue to remain steadfast in our support of each other and our mission.”
Gonzalez, 26, a native of Miami, Fla., was shot and killed May 21 in Ash Shura, Iraq, when insurgents attacked his unit. A “tanker,” he was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd ID at Fort Stewart.
Gonzalez joined the Army on Sept. 17, 2001, and arrived at Fort Stewart in April 2002, according to Fort Stewart spokesperson Kevin Larson.
“He had four deployments,” Larson said. He did not have information as to why Gonzalez will receive the medals.
1-64 Armor Commander Lt. Col. Ross Coffman wrote this sad message from Iraq Monday on the battalion’s Facebook page:
“I write you tonight with heavy heart due to the passing of Staff Sgt. Amilcar Gonzalez. He was a leader, warrior, soldier and friend to the entire Desert Rogue Family. He will be missed by all of us. Soon we will conduct the memorial service in Iraq and will all mourn together. Please keep Staff Sgt. Gonzalez’s family and the Desert Rogues in your thoughts and prayers. We continue to remain steadfast in our support of each other and our mission.”