Spc. Arturo Huerta-Cruz of Clearwater, Florida was a graduate of Countryside High School. He joined the military in May 2006 about the same time he graduated from St. Petersburg College with a degree in architectural design. He was quiet, but studious and would come to the classroom on time or early and would stay late sitting at his desk. He didn't socialize with a lot of people but he got his work done. Arturo was born in Mexico and became an American when his parents earned U.S. citizenship. He was a chemical operations specialist. He enlisted in the Army in May 2006 and completed basic and advanced individual training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Originally from Clearwater, Fla., Huerta-Cruz was assigned to Fort Drum in October 2006. He deployed to Iraq with the 3,500 Soldier strong Warrior Brigade in November 2007 and served in the Kirkuk area of northern Iraq. His awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Army Achievement Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. He died in Tuz, Iraq, of wounds sustained when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device at age 23.
Army
10th Brigade Support Battalion
1st Brigade Combat Team
10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry)
Fort Drum, N.Y.
Army
10th Brigade Support Battalion
1st Brigade Combat Team
10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry)
Fort Drum, N.Y.
Spc. Arturo Huerta-Cruz of Clearwater, Florida was a graduate of Countryside High School. He joined the military in May 2006 about the same time he graduated from St. Petersburg College with a degree in architectural design. He was quiet, but studious and would come to the classroom on time or early and would stay late sitting at his desk. He didn't socialize with a lot of people but he got his work done. Arturo was born in Mexico and became an American when his parents earned U.S. citizenship. He was a chemical operations specialist. He enlisted in the Army in May 2006 and completed basic and advanced individual training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Originally from Clearwater, Fla., Huerta-Cruz was assigned to Fort Drum in October 2006. He deployed to Iraq with the 3,500 Soldier strong Warrior Brigade in November 2007 and served in the Kirkuk area of northern Iraq. His awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, Army Achievement Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. He died in Tuz, Iraq, of wounds sustained when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device at age 23.
Army
10th Brigade Support Battalion
1st Brigade Combat Team
10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry)
Fort Drum, N.Y.
Army
10th Brigade Support Battalion
1st Brigade Combat Team
10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry)
Fort Drum, N.Y.
