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Justin L. Vasquez was born in Rocky Ford, Colorado on January 26, 1979 to Tino and Vicki Vasquez, and was raised in Manzanola, Colorado.
After graduating from Manzanola High School Justin entered the U.S. Army on August 13th, 1997. At Fort Knox, Kentucky Justin finished his One Station Unit Training with A TRP, 5/15 CAV. Justin was a master rappeller who met his wife at a climbing gym. They unofficially married at the top of a 200-foot spire before formally tying the knot seven months later.
A lot of times during the summertime, when I would be driving to Manzanola, I would see Justin riding his bike back from camping on the Arkansas River into town. He would flag me down and ask me for a ride. I would throw his bike in the back of my truck, and I would give him a ride home. I remember he would have a knife strapped to his leg, or some kind of ninja throwing stars. Usually he had both.
Justin was always at the riverbottem acting like an explorer. When he earned his Primary Military Occupational Specialty of 19D, Calvary Scout, no one was really surprised. That job was made for Justin. "There wasn't a day of his life that wasn't exciting. If it wasn't exciting, he would make it exciting," his sister Jennifer said. "Nothing around here was exciting enough for him. So he enlisted in the Army. We will miss him, but that's what he was born for."
Justin served eight years in the U.S. Army and had attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. SSG Vasquez had had served as a squad Leader with C Troop, 2nd ACR, Fort Polk, Louisiana. In 2002 SSG. Vasquez received orders to report as a Platoon Sergeant, to Lightning Troop, 3rd Squadron, 3d Armored Calvary Regiment, based at Fort Carson, Colorado. From March 2003 to March 2004, SSG.Vasquez was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Once again duty called and SSG. Vasquez and Lightning Troop returned to Iraq in March of 2005. SSG. Vasquez was into the 4th month of his second combat tour when he was killed in Baghdad, Iraq on June 5, 2005. when an improvised explosive device was detonated near his Bradley fighting vehicle . Justin Vasquez was 26 years old. "He was an athletic little guy who played football," his father Tino said. "He never was any trouble whatsoever." He wrecked every car he ever owned and worked tirelessly on a Volkswagen Beetle, only to see it top out at 35 mph. He loved his 1981 Corvette. Other soldiers called Vasquez a born leader. "He was always the first one out the gate and liked to lead by example," his father said.
SSG Vasquez was buried in his hometown of Manzanola, Colorado on June 12, 2005. A crowd of over 1000 people filled the gymnasium of Manzanola High School for his funeral.
For his actions in Iraq SSG Vasquez received many awards and decorations including, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal (2nd OLC), the Army Achievement Medal (4th OLC), the Army Good Conduct Medal (2nd award), the Global War on Terrorism Expedition Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Air Assault Badge, and the Drivers Badge (T).
Justin Lee Vasquez is survived by his wife Riley, son Justin David, mom, Vicki Bosley, dad, Tino Vasquez, sisters Jennifer Vasquez, and Janneke Vasquez and numerous friends and family.