The Department of Defense recently announced the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Sgt. Marcos A. Gorra, 22, of North Bergen, N.J., died Feb. 21 at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan.
His mission is ended and he has earned his rest.
He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
Please take a few minutes to join us in remembering the life and honoring the service of this young man who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Sources: NY Daily News, NorthJersey.com 1, NorthJersey.com 2, MYFOX NY, Star-Ledger, Hudson Reporter.com, CT post, Cliffview Pilot.com
Marcos Gorra was born in Santiago de Cuba in 1988. He was seven years old when he came to the United States with his father, mother, sister and brother.
He barely knew any English when he arrived in North Bergen Township, but it didn’t stop him from talking with everyone around him, said Vanessa Gomez, a grammar school classmate. "He didn’t know anything about cliques or little groups, he just talked to everybody," said Gomez.
He was a popular teen, active in athletic competition at North Bergen High School, playing football and baseball during his freshman and sophomore years. During his junior year, his focus shifted toward his desire for military service. He was determined to serve in the U.S. military despite some of his friends’ misgivings. Shareen Shibli, a high school friend, said he would even jokingly try to recruit his friends.
Gorra enlisted in August of 2006, just few months after graduating from North Bergen High School the previous spring. He had dual citizenship, and had honored the country of his birth with a tattoo of Cuban flag on his arm. But before he joined the Army, he got new tattoos of an American flag and an eagle to show his patriotic feelings toward his adopted country.
Gorra served in South Korea from December of 2006 through December of 2007, and being deployed so far away from home was difficult because he missed his family and they missed him. "He was in Korea for a year without leave, and that was very hard to deal with," said his sister. To fill the void, Gorra would speak with relatives by phone whenever he could.
When his year in Korea ended, Gorra returned to the U.S. and was stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he earned his paratrooper's certification. After getting his wings, he was attached to the 82nd Airborne Division in February 2008
He deployed to Afghanistan with the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade in April 2009. Friends in Afghanistan said Gorra always talked about his family, and he wrote on his MySpace page: "My family is by far the most important thing in my life, my reason for living." Technological advances since his Korea tour made it easier for Gorra to keep in touch with family members from Kandahar Air Base, where he was able to communicate over the internet or talk with them using Skype. Friends said he would cajole them to stay up all night talking to him on the webcam. "He would call on the phone and talk to each and every one of us," his sister said.
Gorra wrote on his MySpace page that he wanted to be the best paratrooper he could be. But like many other soldiers, he was also looking forward to coming home. He had a clock posted on his MySpace page counting down the months, days, hours, minutes and seconds until his tour in Afghanistan ended. According to his sister, he had plans to become a New Jersey State Trooper when he got out of the military.
Sadly, that countdown clock is still running, even though Marcos Gorra's dedicated service and his young life have come to an early end. "Freedom doesn't come without a cost," he once wrote. Now the kindhearted family man known for his warm sense of humor has paid that ultimate price.
He lost his life only two weeks after his 22nd birthday.
The military said he died of wounds sustained "while supporting combat operations." Other reports say he lost his life in a "non-combat related incident". Gorra's family has said they were told that he was killed in a training exercise. His death is currently under investigation, according to Army Maj. Brian J. Fickel, and the military will not release the details of the investigation until it is complete.
During his service, Gorra received the Army Achievement Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO medal, the Combat Infantry Badge, the Parachute Badge and the Air Assault Badge.
Sergeant Gorra was part of a pathfinder team: a group that would be the first into an unsecured area and prepare it for forces that followed. "He was a great soldier ... who would get the job done right the first time, every time," said 1st Sgt. Bruce Julius. "Sgt. Gorra's military service is a tribute to his commitment, selflessness, and professionalism," said Lt. Col. Mike Morgan, the commander of Gorra's unit. "Sgt. Gorra was respected by his fellow paratroopers for his mission focus, attention to detail, and warm personality. The troopers of Task Force Saber grieve for his loss and for the loss of his family." A memorial in his honor will be held in Afghanistan, according to an Army spokesman.
The township of North Bergen, NJ has been flying flags at half staff all week in honor of Gorra. Mayor Nicholas Sacco said he visited the family earlier in the week to express his condolences. "This is an enormous loss for our entire community. Everyone in North Bergen who knew Marcos is absolutely heartbroken," Sacco said. "We all share in his family's grief at his tragic, untimely passing." North Bergen Board of Education Superintendent Robert Dandorph added, "He really was an amazing kid. He was sweet, smart." Township officials said yesterday they are waiting for word from the Gorra family before planning a public memorial service. His sister said yesterday that the family is waiting for more details from the military before making final funeral arrangements.
Coping with Gorra’s death has been devastating for his parents and siblings. "It’s hard when you are so close," said his sister. Since they are going through such a difficult time the family has asked for privacy. He was scheduled for a visit home next month. Instead he is coming home to stay, to be buried with honors. No funeral arrangements have been publicly released.
Gorra is survived by his parents, Gricel and Marcos Gorra of North Bergen, whom he called "his heroes". He is also survived by his sister Griselly, and a brother.
In addition to his arm tattoos, Gorra had a personal motto tattooed across his chest: "Follow Your Bliss." "That is how he wanted to live life," his sister said.
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