Staff Sgt. Esau Gonzales, 30, of White Deer, Texas, died May 3 in Mosul, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 38th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, Fort Stewart, Ga. He was dedicated to his country and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, posthumously; Army Achievement Medal; Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Armed Forces Reserve Medal "M" Device; Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon; Navy Sea Service Development Ribbon; and several other ribbons and awards. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Atanacio Gustamantes Gonzales, Edubijen Flores Gonzales, Wallace Clyde Lanier and Millie Sue Lanier. Gonzales was dedicated to his family and is survived by his wife, Melissa; his daughter, Ava Gonzales; a son, Samuel Gonzales, all of Walthourville, Ga.; his father, Atanacio Gonzales of Panhandle; his mother, Sandra Lanier of Panhandle; a sister, Sara of Panhandle; and a stepbrother, Moses of Panhandle. He was a great protector of his older sister, Sue Ann Gray, who now lives in Alvarado. He is also survived by Melissa's parents, Becky and Darrell Mason of Laurel, Del.; and two grandmothers, Lena Smullen and Kathryn Mason, both of Salisbury, Md.

Staff Sgt. Esau Gonzales, 30, of White Deer, Texas, died May 3 in Mosul, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 38th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, Fort Stewart, Ga. He was dedicated to his country and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, posthumously; Army Achievement Medal; Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Armed Forces Reserve Medal "M" Device; Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon; Navy Sea Service Development Ribbon; and several other ribbons and awards. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Atanacio Gustamantes Gonzales, Edubijen Flores Gonzales, Wallace Clyde Lanier and Millie Sue Lanier. Gonzales was dedicated to his family and is survived by his wife, Melissa; his daughter, Ava Gonzales; a son, Samuel Gonzales, all of Walthourville, Ga.; his father, Atanacio Gonzales of Panhandle; his mother, Sandra Lanier of Panhandle; a sister, Sara of Panhandle; and a stepbrother, Moses of Panhandle. He was a great protector of his older sister, Sue Ann Gray, who now lives in Alvarado. He is also survived by Melissa's parents, Becky and Darrell Mason of Laurel, Del.; and two grandmothers, Lena Smullen and Kathryn Mason, both of Salisbury, Md.