Army Sgt. Fernando Delarosa

Remember Our Heroes

Army Sgt. Fernando Delarosa, 24, of Alamo, Texas

Sgt. Delarosa was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.; died Oct. 27, 2009 in Arghandab Valley, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an IED. Also killed were Army Staff Sgt. Luis M. Gonzalez, Army Sgt. Dale R. Griffin, Army Sgt. Issac B. Jackson, Army Spc. Jared D. Stanker, Army Pfc. Christopher I. Walz and Army Sgt. Patrick O. Williamson.

Action 4 News -- It is a fear that has come true for yet another Valley family.

Two Army officials showed up at the de La Rosa family’s home on Tuesday to deliver devastating news.

Their son and brother had been killed by enemy fire in Afghanistan on Monday, unexpected news for a family who had just seen their soldier last week.

"It's dangerous...it is,” said Rolando. “This is the last thing on your mind after someone has been in the military for so long. You kind of forget about someone losing their life over there, until you come home and the military show up."

Fernando de La Rosa, an Alamo Memorial graduate and soldier to the core, "If you look at my brother he was just like our leader,” said brother, Rolando de La Rosa. “He was a leader to other military personnel, to us he was our leader because he was our older brother."

Rolando said he knows his brother paid the ultimate price, but he is proud of him.

So are so many others in this Valley city.

The mayor of Alamo said, while he did not know Fernando personally, he has the utmost respect for what he did.

"The whole city is sad about this event and we're with them 100 percent,” said Alamo Mayor Rudy Villarreal. “We feel for them but there are no words to express the feelings because a lot of us don't know the feeling of having lost a son like that."

Flags in Alamo will continue to fly at half staff until Fernando de La Rosa is brought home.

Fernando de La Rosa leaves behind a wife and two children, both boys.

Army Sgt. Fernando Delarosa was killed in action on 10/27/09.