Arizona soldier wounded in Afghanistan dies
May 15, 2014, 1:05 PM | Updated: 1:22 pm
TUCSON, Ariz. — The Department of Defense has announced a U.S. Army
soldier from Tucson has died from wounds suffered during an attack in
Afghanistan.
Officials said Thursday that Command Sgt. Maj. Martin R Barreras died Tuesday
in San Antonio Military Medical Center. The department says he had suffered
wounds earlier this month when his unit was attacked in Harat Province,
Afghanistan.
“Barreras was my friend and battle buddy,” Lt.
Col. Edward Brady, the 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment commanding officer said in a press release. “I’ve spent more time with him than my wife since I’ve taken command. I believe that I was the luckiest battalion commander in the Army to have him as my [Command Sergeant Major].
“While every soldier in this formation is extremely saddened by his loss, his Bobcats are doing exactly what he would expect of us: Continuing on with the mission and taking the fight to the enemy. This man would do absolutely anything and everything to ensure his soldiers came home safely.”
The 49-year-old Barreras was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry, 3rd Brigade
Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas. He is survived by his wife and three children.
Barreras was originally born in New Mexico and later graduated from Sunnyside High School in Tucson prior to enlisting in the Marines in 1983.
He enlisted in the Army in 1988 and served 22 years with the Ranger Regiment and later led a marksmanship unit before being deployed to Afghanistan.
Barreras received many merits in his decorated career, including the Legion of Merit and Bronze star.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
