Jose Torre Jr. of Garden Grove died Jan. 15.
U.S. Army Specialist Jose Antonio Torre Jr. of Garden Grove died on Saturday, Jan. 15 in Baghdad, Iraq when insurgents attacked his unit with a rocket-propelled grenade. His wounds were ultimately fatal. He was 21.
He came home to the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos on Tuesday, Jan. 25.
Torre was born on June 16, 1989 in Westminster. He enlisted in the Army as a combat engineer) on May 6, 2008. Torre attended one station unit training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri with B Company, 31st Engineer Battalion until Sept. 15, 2008, when he was reassigned to Headquarters Company, Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division in Fort Riley, Kan.
In October 2008 he deployed with the unit in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom for a 12 month tour. Upon redeployment SPC Torre was reassigned to 1st Platoon, C Company, Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team. In November 2010, Torre went on his second tour along with his unit in support of Operation New Dawn as part of the 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade.
Torre’s military schools included Combat Engineer Basic Combat training and advanced individual training.
Torre’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (posthumous), the Army Purple Heart (posthumous), The Army Commendation Medal (1st OLC), the Army Good Conduct Medal (posthumous), the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal (with two Bronze Service Stars), the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Combat Action Badge, Driver and Mechanic Badge, Expert Marksmanship Badge and the Army Meritorious Unit Citation.
Torre is survived by his mother, Candida Nalani Torre; father Jose Antonio Torre Sr; brother Robert Rodriguez and sister Laura Lynn Torre of Garden Grove. CA. He was preceded in death by his brother Mathew Torre.
Laura Herzog is a former public information employee of the Joint Forces Training Base.
