Army Cpl. Rivero was assigned to D Co, 2nd Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment, at Eustis, Florida, and was transferred to C Company, at Orlando. Rivero died from injuries sustained when his HMMWV turned over in western Iraq while he was on a mission in support of Special Forces near H-1 airfield.
John was born at Warner-Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, grew up in Gainesville, Florida, graduated from Buchholz High School in 1998 and attended Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville.
Before departing for military duty in January, he had been attending the University of South Florida in Tampa, where he was studying computer science and engineering. He also spent a semester on the Bulls' cheerleading squad. John was a fitness buff and enjoyed sailing. He enlisted in the Florida Army National Guard in 1998 and completed basic and infantry training at Fort Benning, Georgia, in 1999.
While deployed to the Middle East, he was recognized for his leadership traits and was promoted to corporal. John told loved ones in a recent letter that he had hurt his ankle while serving in Iraq but said he didn't mention it to medics because he was afraid of being removed from his assignment. He knew he was doing a good thing and he really felt strongly about what he was doing - he felt like he was making the world a better place. John was so thoughtful that even while in Iraq, he managed to send people birthday cards. He also voiced concern for fellow soldiers in the Guard and Reserves, who left behind jobs and families without adequate funds.
John was awarded the Army Achievement Medal and Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal. He will be awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and the Florida Cross, posthumously.
John was born at Warner-Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, grew up in Gainesville, Florida, graduated from Buchholz High School in 1998 and attended Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville.
Before departing for military duty in January, he had been attending the University of South Florida in Tampa, where he was studying computer science and engineering. He also spent a semester on the Bulls' cheerleading squad. John was a fitness buff and enjoyed sailing. He enlisted in the Florida Army National Guard in 1998 and completed basic and infantry training at Fort Benning, Georgia, in 1999.
While deployed to the Middle East, he was recognized for his leadership traits and was promoted to corporal. John told loved ones in a recent letter that he had hurt his ankle while serving in Iraq but said he didn't mention it to medics because he was afraid of being removed from his assignment. He knew he was doing a good thing and he really felt strongly about what he was doing - he felt like he was making the world a better place. John was so thoughtful that even while in Iraq, he managed to send people birthday cards. He also voiced concern for fellow soldiers in the Guard and Reserves, who left behind jobs and families without adequate funds.
John was awarded the Army Achievement Medal and Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal. He will be awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and the Florida Cross, posthumously.
Army Cpl. Rivero was assigned to D Co, 2nd Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment, at Eustis, Florida, and was transferred to C Company, at Orlando. Rivero died from injuries sustained when his HMMWV turned over in western Iraq while he was on a mission in support of Special Forces near H-1 airfield.
John was born at Warner-Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, grew up in Gainesville, Florida, graduated from Buchholz High School in 1998 and attended Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville.
Before departing for military duty in January, he had been attending the University of South Florida in Tampa, where he was studying computer science and engineering. He also spent a semester on the Bulls' cheerleading squad. John was a fitness buff and enjoyed sailing. He enlisted in the Florida Army National Guard in 1998 and completed basic and infantry training at Fort Benning, Georgia, in 1999.
While deployed to the Middle East, he was recognized for his leadership traits and was promoted to corporal. John told loved ones in a recent letter that he had hurt his ankle while serving in Iraq but said he didn't mention it to medics because he was afraid of being removed from his assignment. He knew he was doing a good thing and he really felt strongly about what he was doing - he felt like he was making the world a better place. John was so thoughtful that even while in Iraq, he managed to send people birthday cards. He also voiced concern for fellow soldiers in the Guard and Reserves, who left behind jobs and families without adequate funds.
John was awarded the Army Achievement Medal and Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal. He will be awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and the Florida Cross, posthumously.
John was born at Warner-Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, grew up in Gainesville, Florida, graduated from Buchholz High School in 1998 and attended Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville.
Before departing for military duty in January, he had been attending the University of South Florida in Tampa, where he was studying computer science and engineering. He also spent a semester on the Bulls' cheerleading squad. John was a fitness buff and enjoyed sailing. He enlisted in the Florida Army National Guard in 1998 and completed basic and infantry training at Fort Benning, Georgia, in 1999.
While deployed to the Middle East, he was recognized for his leadership traits and was promoted to corporal. John told loved ones in a recent letter that he had hurt his ankle while serving in Iraq but said he didn't mention it to medics because he was afraid of being removed from his assignment. He knew he was doing a good thing and he really felt strongly about what he was doing - he felt like he was making the world a better place. John was so thoughtful that even while in Iraq, he managed to send people birthday cards. He also voiced concern for fellow soldiers in the Guard and Reserves, who left behind jobs and families without adequate funds.
John was awarded the Army Achievement Medal and Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal. He will be awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and the Florida Cross, posthumously.
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