Laredo soldier dies in Iraq on last day before return

[Judi Lynn]

June 11, 2005, 10:43PM

Laredo soldier dies in Iraq on last day before return
Associated Press

LAREDO - A day before he was scheduled to return from Iraq, Army Sgt. Roberto Arizola Jr. was killed when a device exploded near his vehicle in Baghdad.

Arizola, 31, of Laredo, was killed Wednesday by the roadside bomb. He had been a border patrol agent in Laredo before being sent to Iraq.

"We just can't believe it was his last day there," said his mother, Cecilia Arizola. "He was a good person."

Cecilia Arizola remembered her son as a loving father and husband who liked to play video games and sports with his 7-year-old son. His wife, Monica, and the rest of his family had postponed a birthday party for his son until he returned home.
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http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/3221571
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[Botany]

1. Blessings & prayers on his spirit, family, and friends.

Army Sgt. Roberto Arizola Jr :patriot:

[Barkley]

2. I hope his wife and kid are taken care of.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

3. so sad

:patriot:
just horrible
:cry:

[0007]

4. The twisted finger of fate has a way of rubbing it in on the last day.

RIP

[Lars39]

5. From what I understand, in Vietnam the soldiers that were close

to their return date were (for the most part)shuffled back to relative safety days before,
not kept on assignment until the last minute. :cry:

[tblue37]

7. But in Iraq there is such a shortage

of warm bodies that they can't spare a one, not even for a minute.

[alcuno]

6. That is IT!!

I'm officially over the edge now. May he find peace with God and may his family find the comfort they need.

And may the POTUS find that God punishes those who deceive and cause death.