Remembering Lance Corporal Michael S. Torres.

I wear my Hero Bracelet in memory and honor of Lance Corporal Michael S. Torres of El Paso Texas. He served with the USMC in the 3rd Bn, 7th Regiment,1st Marine Division.

I first met Mike when he was 17 years old and joined the Texas State Guard unit I belong to. He was still in high School and enlisted with parental consent. He served under me as one of my Military Police soldiers, and was a natural leader and dedicated soldier. On duty or off, there was nothing he would not do for his fellow soldiers, often going far out of his way to do so. I consider it an honor to have served with a soldier of such caliber. After high school he enrolled in college at the University of Texas at El Paso, where he was studying engineering. He continued to be a dedicated and motivated soldier and was soon promoted to Corporal and made a Team Leader. There was talk of him being commissioned following his graduation from college.

Then came the events of September 11th, 2001 and the Global War on Terrorism. Mike felt he needed to do more to defend his family, friends, and country from terrorism, and he wanted to be directly in the fight. Shortly thereafter he joined the Marine Corps. Following his graduation from the School of the Infantry he was assigned to Kilo company, 3rd Bn,7th Rgt at Twenty-Nine Palms, California. In February 2004 the unit deployed to Iraq, and was tasked to operate in the Al-Anbar province along the Syrian border. Mike was quickly promoted meritoriously to Lance Corporal.

Late on the night of July 5th,2004 Mike was manning the machine gun in the turret of the third hummvee in a 5 hummvee patrol, this was the only "soft" or un-armored vehicle in the patrol. As I understand it from talking to his squad leader, he volunteered to take this position this night so that other fellow marines, his friends, would not have to take on this dangerous task. The patrols mission was to sweep the MSR, or Main Supply Rout, for IED's. As the patrol made a sharp 90 degree turn on the road the middle vehicle was exposed , terrorists launched 2 RPG rockets down the long axis of the road directly at the front of the vehicle, one missing and the other striking the top edge of the windshield frame or machine gun mount of the vehicle. Mike Torres was killed instantly by the blast. Also killed in the explosion was his best friend, called "Dallas" and another brother Marine. The two other occupants of the vehicle were severely wounded.

Mike left behind his father and mother, a younger sister, his fiancee and many,many friends who still feel his loss.

I consider it a great honor to call this man of courage and honor my Fellow Soldier and my friend.

I continue to serve in the Texas State Guard and in addition to that I am employed as a civilian contractor here at Ft. Bliss, Texas. I am a Combat Life Saver  Instructor working for the Mobilization Command, where we train many of  the Guard and Reserve units, Army, Navy and Air Force, that are deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan. I take this job very seriously, as there are many lives depending on the skills and knowledge I leave these troops with. Any time I feel tired, unmotivated or feel training might possibly be short-cutted, I look to my wrist at the Hero Bracelet bearing the name of Mike Torres and I am immediately reminded that I must train these troops to the fullest extent of my ability. Mike is still my reminder to give it 100 percent during training, and he is now the Guardian Angel watching over me, keeping me safe from harm and reminding me of the consequences of failing to train these soldiers properly. I am frequently asked by my students, many of whom are deploying for their first time, about the bracelet, and I am happy to tel them of Mike and his sacrifice. This helps me to get it across to them that they are heading into a very dangerous situation in order to protect their loved ones and their nation and they should take nothing for granted.

sincerely,

SFC John C. Holloway

"until there is no ene