R.I.P. Staff Sgt. Bradley Espinoza

Name: Army Staff Sgt. Bradley Espinoza

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Age: 26

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From: Mission, Texas

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Assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas,

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Incident: Army Staff Sgt. Bradley Espinoza died Oct. 19 in Qwest, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device.

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Died: October 19, 2009

(Taken from www.mysanantonio.com) ALTON — Hundreds of Rio Grande Valley residents, a few wearing T-shirts or buttons in memory of other fallen Valley soldiers, gathered Thursday for the funeral Mass and burial of Army Staff Sgt. Bradley Espinoza, a 26-year-old who died Oct. 19 in Quest, Iraq.

“He was a brave man who died serving his country,” Father Julian Becerril said during the Spanish-language service at San Martin de Porres Catholic Church. “Death is a passage to a new life. He is in better hands, in better arms.”

Espinoza was with the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division based at Fort Hood.

Espinoza died of wounds suffered when his military vehicle was destroyed with a makeshift bomb. He is survived by a wife and two young children as well as four younger siblings, his parents and grandparents.

Family members sobbed quietly during the Mass and the ceremony that followed at the new Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission, where military officials presented them with a long list of awards and decorations. Members of the Valley's Patriot Guard circled the gathering with American flags held high. Taps was played and soldiers fired rifle volleys.

Humberto Espinoza, a friend who graduated from high school with Espinoza in 2002, said the two had been close since they were in a law enforcement club and made a senior year trip to Austin together.

Espinoza, who is not related to the soldier, said his friend always had the bearing of someone in uniform, though he was fun-loving and smiling. On military leaves home, he seemed exuberant, pleased with his service and accomplishments.

“He gave off such an aura,” said Espinoza, 25. “He was so happy with his wife, his kids, and he loved the Army.” He paused, then added, “I was just thinking about the last time I saw him, how the last thing I said to him was, ‘Stay safe.'”

Lina Soza, 24, a friend of the soldier and his family, said Espinoza was a role model for his siblings and the pride of his parents, who have declined interviews, saying they needed time to mourn.

“His family's very family-oriented,” she said. “They'd always be having a big barbecue. You could tell their bond was very close.”