IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 1329-05

December 27, 2005

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Sergio Gudino, 22, of Pomona, Calif., died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Dec. 25, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his M1A1 tank during combat operations. Gudino was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

For further information related to this release, contact Army Public Affairs at (703) 692-2000.



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This LA INDYMEDAI thread will be updated as more information becomes available.

This is a tragic loss. We mourn this man's passing.

But I would just like to say this - WHERE is your dedication to NON HISPANIC fallen local soldiers????

Pomona man dies in Iraq on Christmas Day

Roadside bomb in Baghdad kills soldier

By Monica Rodriguez, Staff Writer

Inland Valley Daily Bulletin



POMONA - Sergio Gudino wanted nothing more than to provide for his wife and 3-year-old son.

To do that, the Pomona resident joined the U.S. Army, surprising his three siblings.

"Sergio is like a big ol' teddy bear," said Victor Gudino, Sergio's eldest brother. "I knew he was a strong person but I couldn't see my brother doing that -- shooting at people."

Now Sergio's family is struggling with the news that their sibling's life was cut short.

The 21-year-old Army specialist died Christmas Day when a roadside bomb went off near the tank he was driving during combat operations in Baghdad, Iraq, the Defense Department announced Tuesday.

Sergio Gudino is the third Pomona man to die in Iraq. In June, Cesar Baez, a corpsman with the Navy, was killed during combat operations. In October, Shakere Guy, a sergeant with the Army National Guard, was killed by a roadside bomb.

"He's not going to be here to see his son grow up," said Sergio's younger brother Andrew, 18. "I'm going to miss him."

Sergio, a quiet man who always had a smile on his face, was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division out of Fort Stewart, Ga.

Sergio was a graduate of Claremont High School. Although his brothers attended Pomona High, Sergio chose to attend Claremont High for the academic program, Victor, 27, said.

Not only was Sergio a straight-A student, he was also a strong athlete who was part of the football, track and field and wrestling teams, Andrew said.

The Gudino brothers said they all thought Sergio would go on to college, and they were surprised when he decided to marry shortly after graduating.

Sergio married his wife, Candy, in December of 2001 and worked and attended Chaffey College, his brothers said. But when Sergio learned he was going to be a father he refocused and concentrated on working.

To provide for his wife and newborn son, Cyrus, he held down three jobs, working for United Parcel Service in one of the company's warehouses, at a sandwich shop and selling time shares, Andrew said.

Then about three years ago Sergio announced he was joining the Army.

Eddie Gudino, 25, said he realized his brother was thinking of joining the service when he saw an Army recruiter at Sergio's wedding.

"When I seen the recruiter you pretty much got the hint," Eddie said.

Sergio went off to Iraq but returned to Pomona this fall to recover from a serious wound that left a gash in his right shoulder. Eddie said Sergio told their father the wound was accidental and resulted when a large caliber round left in a weapon discharged.

Sergio spent about two months in Pomona before returning overseas around late October, Eddie said.

The older brothers said they tried to talk to Sergio and get him to reconsider returning to Iraq. He had the option of not returning but he wanted to rejoin his colleagues.

He was also talking about re-enlisting when his commitment ended, Victor said.

"He liked what he was doing. He never seemed scared about anything," he said.

When he was in town Sergio spoke about how he missed not having a particular brand of Mexican hot sauce, his brothers said.

The Tabasco sauce the military provided just didn't satisfy Sergio, so he bought a couple of cases of Tapatio hot sauce and took it with him, Victor said.

While he was away Sergio would call on special occasions such as Mother's Day and he'd e-mail periodically, the brothers said.

Often Sergio's wife would forward messages or share news about him with the family, the brothers said.

Victor said the news of his brother's death hasn't really sunk in.

"I still can't believe it," he said. "It just comes to my head all the time. I'm not going to be able to see him."

Word that Sergio had died came Sunday afternoon, Eddie said. Military officials came to the family's home and he knew something was wrong.

The officials wanted to speak with the Gudino brothers' parents, Eddie said. So he called his father who lives in Rancho Cucamonga and asked him to come speak with the Army officials.

His father held his emotions in, Eddie said, and only broke down when he spoke with Sergio's wife on the phone.

"I'd never seen him cry before," Eddie said.

Monica Rodriguez can be reached by e-mail at m_rodriguez@dailybulletin.com or by phone at (909) 483-9336.

Copyright © 2005 Los Angeles Newspaper Group

Our most precious gifts for the future. And they use them for toilet paper.

Christmas day, is just another day, to a soldier, sailor, airman or marine, serving his/her country, either domestically, or on some ship at sea, or on distant foreign lands, waterways or in the sky above, it all.

To those who wail and cry, I say celebrate not the passing of the military service member, but celebrate their life and the gifts they gave, from their sacrifices.

We do not have a Draft or mandatory service, yet, and all who serve have done so willingly, volunteering themselves, accepting both good benefits, and bad conditions, while awaiting Death's visit to their station.

Only those who serve, can appreciate the true meaning if Liberty and Freedom, for it is them who serve, who surrender both liberty and freedom, over their minds, bodies and souls, in service to the love of country.

The solder knows the horror of war as the widow and child knows its fruits.

The prisoner knows the treasure of liberty.

The fool knows neither.

Flags Flown Half Staff To Honor Fallen Pomona Soldier

POSTED: 1:54 pm PST December 29, 2005

LOS ANGELES -- Flags were being flown at half staff at the state Capitol Thursday in honor of a Pomona soldier who died on Christmas Day of injuries he suffered during combat operations in Iraq.

Army Spc. Sergio Gudino, 22, was killed when an improvised explosive device detonated near his tank in Baghdad, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office reported.

"Every person willing to sacrifice his or her life for this country and our freedoms deserves our utmost respect and gratitude," Schwarzenegger said in a statement.

"Spc. Gudino embodied the determination and courage that makes our nation strong," Schwarzenegger said.

"Maria and I offer our deepest sympathies and extend our prayers to Sergio's family and friends," Schwarzenegger said. "On a day that is a celebration, they suffered a grievous loss."

Gudino was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

Copyright 2005 by NBC4.tv. City News Service contributed to this report. All rights reserved.

For those who fight for it?

Life has a flavor the protected will never know.