Our Latest American Hero #155

Army Spc. Omar Soltero, 28, of San Antonio, Texas; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Polk, La.; died Jan. 31 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.

Soldier Leaves Behind Child

Soltero Joined the active duty U.S. Army in August 2000. He joined the New York National Guard in August 2003 and then the Texas National Guard in December 2004 where he remained until February of 2010 when rejoined active duty service. His previous duty assignments include Fort Drum, N.Y., Camp Bullis, Texas, Camp Mabry, Texas, and Fort Benning, Ga. He arrived at Fort Polk in April 2010. Soltero had previously deployed twice to Kosovo.
Soltero's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Kosovo Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terror Service Medal, the Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the NATO Medal, the Ranger Tab, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge and the Air Assault Badge.
Soltero is survived by his child, mother and father.