Army Staff Sgt. Jonathan Rojas

Remember Our Heroes

Army Staff Sgt. Jonathan Rojas, 27, of Hammond, Indiana

SSgt Rojas was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Fort Wainwright, Ala.; died Oct. 3 of injuries sustained from enemy small arms fire while performing security operations in Baghdad.

HAMMOND, IND. -- A Fort Wainwright soldier killed in Iraq was looking forward to civilian life and starting a family with his wife, his sister said.

Staff Sgt. Jonathan Rojas, 27, of Hammond, Ind., was killed Tuesday by small arms fire in Baghdad, Army Maj. Kirk Gohlke said. No other soldiers were injured. Rojas was assigned to the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team.

Rojas was at the top of a tank instructing other soldiers when a sniper's bullet hit him in the back of the head, Rojas' family said.

Rojas, who was based at Fort Wainwright, was assigned to the brigade's 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment.

He was born in Mexico, joined family in Hammond in 1990 and graduated from Hammond High School in 1997. After serving seven years in the military, Rojas was looking forward to being a civilian and starting a family with his wife, Tasha Lynn, said his younger sister, Isaura Rojas.

"He was a great kid who never got in trouble," said his aunt, Sara Cruz. "He was very close to his family."

Rojas was playful, his family said. In August, he put himself on the waiting list for an Xbox 360 so he could play the newest football games.

"We're going to miss him being himself, doing stupid things, his company, having a brother, someone to talk to," said William Rojas, Jonathan's brother.

Army Staff Sgt. Jonathan Rojas was killed in action on 10/03/06.