DOB/DOD: June 27, 1985 (Bridgeport, CT) – March 25, 2007; 21 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
LOCAL ADDRESS: unknown street in Bridgeport; moved out of state when he was 6 years old
ENLISTMENT: June 21, 2005
MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY: 19D; Cavalry Scout
UNIT: Troop A, 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team (25ID), 82nd Airborne Division; Fort Bragg, North Carolina
FAMILY: Born to Orlando G. Gonzalez, Jr. (1967-) and Carmen M. Diaz (1963-). Stepmother, Carmen Rosa (?-). One sister, Jennifer M. Diaz-Jackson (?-). Three brothers, Frank (?-), Michael (?-), and Nathaniel (1992-).
DECORATIONS: Awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Combat Action Badge, and the Parachutist’s Badge.
CIRCUMSTANCES: One of four soldiers killed in Baqubah, Iraq, when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detonated near their vehicle. The three other soldiers killed in the incident:
Army Sergeant Jason W. Swiger; South Portland, Maine
Army Corporal Jason Núñez; Naranjito, Puerto Rico
Army Private First Class Anthony J. White; Columbia, South Carolina
Susquehannock High School, Glen Rock, Pennsylvania, Class of 2005; sophomore picture below and junior picture below that. He was one of three students given an award by the United States Army in his senior year.
From The York (Pennsylvania) Daily Record on March 29, 2007
AN AMAZING YOUNG MAN
Friend Patric LeBlanc said Orlando E. Gonzalez loved the Army
When Private First Class Orlando E. “Eric” Gonzales needed a place to live during his senior year of high school, Patrick LaBlanc was happy to make that happen, even though it was unusual for people to live at his camp during the school year. Generally, campers stay at Summit Grove Camp in New Freedom during the summers. However, Southern York School District contacted the camp looking for a place for Gonzalez — who was an incoming senior at Susquehannock High School at the time – to stay. Leblanc, executive director of the camp during several summers, described him as an ambassador – outgoing and willing to “talk (anyone’s) ear off.” “Orlando was an amazing young man,” LeBlanc said. “He had a heart as big as this camp.” The camp, LeBlanc said, spans about 45 acres. Gonzalez, 21, was killed Sunday in Baqubah, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near a vehicle he was riding in, according to the Department of Defense. Three other soldiers, all assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, were killed in the attack. Two others were injured. Both LeBlanc and Susquehannock Principal Brian Cashman said Gonzalez, who graduated from Susquehannock High School in 2005, had a difficult family situation, but they would not elaborate. Gonzalez is the son of Orlando G. Gonzalez of Connecticut and Carmen M. Diaz. Family members could not be reached for comment Wednesday. LeBlanc said Gonzalez was excited about joining the Army after high school. The soldier visited the camp a couple of times between boot camp and his deployment to Iraq. “He couldn’t wait to be seen in his uniform,” LeBlanc said of Gonzalez’s first trip back to the camp after boot camp. The camp director said it’s comforting to think of how Gonzalez – a “man of belief” who “Knew where he was going” – was excited to join the Army. LeBlanc believes “if you told him this is how it would end, he still would have gone into the Army.” Gonzalez lived in the staff dormitory at the camp during his senior year. His dorm, along with two others, sits toward one edge of the wooded campground, which has dozens of cabins and other buildings. It’s a college setting, with campers coming from as close as the immediate area and as far away as California, said LeBlanc, who has been the camp director for about 10 years. During the summer, LeBlanc said, about 25 teenagers typically live at the camp. Gonzalez had been one of those summer campers, and he was known as “Speedy.” “The kid ran like a gazelle,” LeBlanc said. At one point during Gonzalez’s stay, LeBlanc recalls seeing a wild rabbit darting around the campgrounds. He told Gonzalez he was probably fast enough to catch it. Gonzalez said he wasn’t fast enough. Later that day, Gonzales showed up at LeBlanc’s door. “There he was, petting this rabbit,” LeBlanc said.
From The York (Pennsylvania) Daily Record on March 31, 2007
Private First Class Orlando E. ‘Eric’ Gonzalez died honorably in the line of duty in Baqubah, Iraq, on Sunday, March 25, 2007, where he was serving as part of the U.S. Army’s Task Force Lightning. He was a member of the 82nd Airborne Division based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Eric was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on June 27, 1985. He was raised in Glen Rock and was a student in the Southern York County School District. He was also an active participant in various church activities at the Shrewsbury Assembly of God. He often worked at Summit Grove Camp in New Freedom. He graduated from Susquehannock High School in 2005. Directly after graduation, Eric enlisted in the Army, both to pursue a career and because he was passionate about being able to serve his country. He was always dedicated in everything that he did – in church, schooling, friendships, his family, and especially the Army. He loved to run, have fun, and hang out with friends. He earned the nickname “Speedy” because of his ability to run the mile in under four minutes. Eric’s family is proud of his accomplishments in church, school, and the Army. Eric is survived by his father, Orlando G. Gonzalez — of Bridgeport, Connecticut; his mother, Carmen M. Diaz of York; his sister, Jennifer M. (Stephen) Jackson; his brothers, Frank, Michael, and Nathaniel; three nieces; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Eric’s joyous presence will be truly missed by all. His family is especially comforted in knowing that he is at home in Heaven eternally with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 3, 2007, at the Shrewsbury Assembly of God Church, 234 N. Main St., Shrewsbury. Pastor Robert Harris will be officiating. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery on a date to be determined.
From Legacy.com
As a high school friend of Orlando’s, I’d like to extend my sympathy to his family and other friends worldwide. Orlando made friends everywhere he went because his kindness and positivity were so far-reaching. For that reason, I am positive that he’s made many a friend during his time serving in the Army. I doubt if there’s a person who attended school with him who didn’t know him or at least know of him (his extremely fast running through the halls made him well-known!). He was always there to offer a hug or kind words to anyone, regardless of how well he knew them. He enjoyed life to the maximum degree, and even when he was having hard times, he’d never let on to it.
The last time I heard from Orlando was about a week before his death. He e-mailed me and said, “Guess what? I might be in Time Magazine!” He was so excited about that. Sadly, it doesn’t look like he’s made it into the magazine, but if there’s a Heaven, I know that’s where he is. And I guess that beats a magazine any day.
Over the last few months, he wrote me a few times saying “If anything happens to me…” usually followed by some funny scenario of how his friends were to revive him. This, and some other things he said in his e-mails, sort of make me wonder if, in some way, consciously or subconsciously, he knew.
We’ve lost such a wonderful person from the world this week.
Rest easy, Speedy.
— Megan B
Orlando was truly an amazing guy. He and I attended airborne school back in 2005 at Fort Benning. He was in my squad, chalk, as well as a roommate. This guy can run like the wind… the morning we took our physical fitness test; it was cold and windy… I could have sworn Orlando outran the wind coming in at an awesome time, 12:00 flat. Orlando was like a little brother to me, and he looked up to me as though I was his big brother. The last time I saw Orlando was at the gym at Ritz-Epps on Fort Bragg. We worked out together that morning. Orlando showed me a crucial ab workout that hurt like crazy 3 days after the workout. As we were departing the gym, he told me that he was about to deploy. He was excited, and he was talking about how when he returned, he was going to buy a new car. I encouraged him to do that cause we, as soldiers, work hard for our money. I told him to be safe, and I told him to promise me that he would come back home. Sadly, he didn’t. It hurt my heart to find out what happened to that guy. I cried and was sad for a while. He will never be forgotten. His memories remain in my heart. Old troopers never die; they just fade away. Airborne All the Way…Fury from the sky…God Bless
— Emmanuel Moore
Private Gonzalez is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, 1 Memorial Avenue, Arlington, Virginia; Section 60, Site 8614.
