Unspeakable Tragedy
Tonight, I write with a very heavy heart. In a war you expect to lose people. It is a hazard of the job for which you prepare yourself from the beginning. It might be someone in the unit that you don't know, someone that you do know, or it may even be you. You keep that knowledge with you always, so that you may soldier on when it happens. You expect it from all of the arhabi's dirty tricks; IED's, ambushes, suicide bombers, etc. You do not expect it from street punks while you are home on leave. The NightStalkers lost a very good man last night. Specialist Jorge Estrada was murdered while home on leave for the birth of his daughter. The loss of this fine Soldier is not just a loss to his family, the NightStalkers and the Army, but a loss to the American People. To say he was a good man is putting it too lightly. I had the good fortune to work closely with Specialist Estrada for several months when I was also the Communications Officer for the Battalion. He impressed me right from the beginning. The picture above was taken after we had just scored 20 out of 20 on the short-range marksmanship range in Texas during our pre-deployment training.
Jorge was a great Soldier and communications specialist. He was the total package; tough, disciplined, cheerful, a good marksman, and one of the few guys in the commo section that could work wonders with both encrypted radios and computers. I was telling our Operations Officer, Major D. tonight at dinner that he was the type of soldier that if every one in the unit was like him, a leader would never have any problems. Major D. responded that if one tenth of your soldiers were like him, that would still be the case. He made everyone around him better, just by example, and without fanfare or flamboyance. He was the consummate quiet professional. He never complained, usually because he was too busy cracking jokes while getting the job done.
Jorge joined the Army several years ago, originally serving with the 10th Mountain Division in Afghanistan. After coming home intact from one combat tour, he joined the National Guard with plans to attend college. These plans were sidetracked when the NightStalkers needed to plug gaps in our ranks before going to Iraq. Jorge answered when the call went out across the California Guard for volunteers. He performed well at all times and always kept us talking. He was indispensible to me in setting up a local area network (LAN) when most of the aging Guardsmen in the Communications section, while being whizzes with radios, were not up to speed on computers and network architecture. We spent many long days and nights working together getting everything up and running.
He was also the quality of man that his killer could never be. Recently married, Jorge was home on leave for the birth of his daughter, who is now 5 days old. His wife had another daughter from a previous relationship with the killer, that Jorge was raising as his own. He was that type of guy. He did right by his woman, right by his kids, even when they weren't his, and right by his country. He went above and beyond the call in every regard. I know that had he perceived a threat from this scumbag that sucker-shot him, I would not be writing this post now, because that scumbag would be in the hospital or jail, and Specialist Estrada would still be enjoying his leave with his wife and daughters.
He was expected back here in the sandbox about two weeks from now. I will miss him as will all of us here. I pray that he rests well in Heaven, that his family finds peace, and that his murderer receives swift and severe justice. Authorities ask that anyone with information about Fabian Cayetano Urrea's whereabouts call 911 or the Murrieta Police Department at (951) 696-3615.
Or just hold him for me until I get home....
What an unspeakably surreal tragedy. I'm saying prayers for his family.
Posted by: JNALLY | June 11, 2005 at 04:23 AM
Damn Major, What the hell is this world coming to? I find myself more and more disappointed in our young, fellow Americans. Not enough of them take pride in their country, in themselves, and in their fellow man. I am sorry for your loss, his families loss, and America's loss. May god judge the murdering,disgrace with a heavy hand!!
Posted by: Katy | June 11, 2005 at 04:50 AM
My heart has been broken and I am sad, I didn't even know this man. I wish that I did. Thankyou for his story.
Posted by: Jerry | June 11, 2005 at 05:23 AM
..Murdering scumbag..rips right at the heart..almost too much..got this story from T6..So appropriate that you should follow up and bring us closer to Spl. Jorge Estrada..what is it they say.."Only the good die young"..Thank You Sir..He will be Honored..and..You know what they say about 'payback'..it would only be fitting..Semper Fi..
..Our Hearts go out to his Loved ones..Amen..
Posted by: YankeePaPa13 | June 11, 2005 at 05:43 AM
Damn. Just damn......
I hope his wife has a copy of your post. She'll want to keep it so that the children will be able to read about their Dad- even if he wasn't the biological father.
What a loss.
Posted by: AFSister | June 11, 2005 at 05:52 AM
Major, Would you let us know if a fund will be set up for the family and his children?
Our hearts are heavy with such news...
Posted by: Some Soldier's Mom | June 11, 2005 at 05:59 AM
So sorry Major K., so very sorry. We read your Blog constantly and appreciate your ability to keep us informed. We pray for all our service men and women. We will say extra prayers for you and his family at this time.
Posted by: VCS | June 11, 2005 at 06:14 AM
With prayers.
Posted by: W. | June 11, 2005 at 10:04 AM
Such a shame, and a senseless loss. You are right - we will all miss the contribution of this fine young man. Sad for everyone.
You and your men, and his wife and children, will be in my thoughts.
Posted by: Barb | June 11, 2005 at 10:10 AM
R.I.P.
Posted by: Avary | June 11, 2005 at 05:42 PM
Well written Greg. So, SO wrong that it had to be written.
Posted by: ginny | June 11, 2005 at 08:25 PM
Thank you for telling us about this. There's more I'd like to add, but this isn't the time or place for it. God Bless ya Greg and God will hold Jorge in his hands.
Posted by: chrys | June 12, 2005 at 01:15 AM
Godspeed, Soldier.
Posted by: Cordeiro | June 12, 2005 at 02:07 AM
This is so tragic. I am so sorry!!
Posted by: Annette | June 12, 2005 at 03:08 AM
My prayers are with all associated with this tragedy.
Posted by: Steve Thompson | June 12, 2005 at 03:44 AM
Urrea. What a fitting name for a stream of excrement.
Posted by: BenJCarter | June 12, 2005 at 07:39 AM
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your men, and with the family of Specialist Estrada. I am so sorry.Thank you for what you do there, to keep us safe here.
Posted by: Maggie | June 12, 2005 at 09:54 AM
Sorry to hear this news, Major. Prayers to his family and to you and your unit. Stay safe.
Posted by: THIRDWAVEDAVE | June 12, 2005 at 10:42 AM
Regrets Major K to you and your people and to SPC Estrada's family. What a sad and tragic action. I hope they take this imbicile down.
Posted by: Toni | June 12, 2005 at 06:20 PM
I heard about this on the radio news a few days ago. I am saddened. I am disgusted.
Those guilty include anyone who had the opportunity to teach the killer to use his rational faculty to reach a reasoned understanding about trading value for value instead of acting on emotive whim and refused do so.
Perhaps if the ideologues of our society would focus on teaching rationality, more people would see the value of freedom and understand the sanctity of human life.
Dead murders don't murder people anymore.
Posted by: Dan | June 12, 2005 at 10:28 PM
PS.
Nice pics.
Yet, I cannot see the grouping. Did you put them all through the same hole? If so, was it in the head or the chest?
---Dan
Posted by: Dan | June 12, 2005 at 10:30 PM
Major K, It has taken me a bit to reply. The senselessness of this act hit close to home for me. I offer my heartfelt condolances to you, your men, and most importantly the young wife.
Posted by: devildog6771 | June 13, 2005 at 12:34 AM
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you guys, and especially the Estrada family. You guys stay safe and come soon to us all.
Proud mom of just one soldier fighting for our country
Posted by: stacy lee | June 13, 2005 at 04:24 AM
My most sincere condolences to everyone. This was linked on my humble little blog with a plea for any info to be turned over to law enforcement.
Posted by: Warthog | June 13, 2005 at 06:06 AM
I am deeply saddened to hear of the loss of a fine soldier. As you very honestly stated, we expect we will lose soldiers on the battlefield. We never expect them to be murdered here in the US.
May God have mercy on this fine soldier and comfort his family in this very sad time. I will pray for them as I continue to pray for all of you.
This old First Sergeant still keeps the soldiers first......
God Bless you and God Bless America
Posted by: Big Dog | June 13, 2005 at 07:31 AM