Army Spc. Ricardo Cerros Jr., 24, of Salinas, Calif.
Spc. Cerros was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.; died Oct. 8, 2011 in Logar province, Afghanistan, of wounds caused by small-arms fire.
Lt. Col. David Hodne, Commander of 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, said about Spc. Cerros: “He was a warrior who lost his life while fighting courageously alongside his fellow Rangers. We will honor his service to our country and never forget his sacrifice. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Cerros family.”
Spc Cerros graduated from Everett Alarez High School in 2005, where he participated in the NJ ROTC Program for four years, obtaining Commanding Officer of the program. He attended the University of California, Irvine where he obtained a bachelors of Chemistry degree in 2010.
Spc Cerros enlisted in the Army July 2010, joining the 75th Ranger Regiment in March this year after graduating from Ranger Assessment and Selection Program. The regiment has been continuously deployed to Afghanistan since the U.S. invasion in 2001. This was his first deployment.
Spc Cerros' awards and decorations include:
Purple Heart
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Combat Infantryman Badge
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Parachutist Badge
Army Expert Rifle Marksmanship Qualification Badge
Spc Cerros was laid to rest on October 19 at Ridgelawn Cemetery in Gary, Indiana.
Spc Cerros is survived by his mother, Marguerite; father and stepmother, Ricardo Sr. and Deborah; siblings, MSgt Marco Cerros, who is stationed in England, Nicholas and Theresa.
Army Spc. Ricardo Cerros Jr. was killed in action on 10/08/11.
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