Sgt. Iosiwo Uruo, a quiet, determined man who left his Guam island home to join the U.S. Army, was honored in a memorial at Fort Lewis on Thursday.
The six-year soldier died May 24 in Buhriz, 40 miles north of Baghdad, when his unit encountered small-arms fire. He was one of 19 soldiers the post lost in Iraq in May, more than in any other month since the U.S. invasion in March 2003.
Spc. Mark Lindsay said during the service that he knew Uruo for 18 months and fought beside him. Both were gunners on Stryker vehicles as part of the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, which deployed to Iraq nearly a year ago.
Uruo was in his first tour in Iraq.
“He gained respect by his actions, not by his words,” Lindsay said. “I gunned beside him in Iraq. I was proud to fight (along) with him.”
Uruo, 27, of Agana Heights, Guam, joined the Army on Jan. 25, 2001, at Fort Knox, Ky. He trained as a Cavalry scout and served in Korea for a year before arriving at Fort Lewis in 2005. He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment.
As a sergeant, Lindsay said, Uruo led by example, but soldiers in the unit were never afraid to talk to him and learn from him. He was always ready to pull his shift, “and then some.”
“He was always there for us,” he said.
Maj. Kyle J. Marsh, the brigade’s rear detachment commander at home at Fort Lewis, said Uruo “fought and died for our very existence” and helped allow others to “enjoy the American dream.”
Thursday’s event was initially thought to be the last individual soldier memorial at Fort Lewis; the post commander last week issued a new policy for once-a-month group ceremonies. But afterward, the senior post chaplain said the policy was under review.
Uruo’s honors include the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Army Good Conduct Medal (second award), the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Combat Action Badge and others.
His family moved from the Island of Truk to Agana Heights to seek a better life, said Lt. Col. Chris Cieply, a Fort Lewis chaplain. Uruo was born in Guam, a U.S. territory.
Cieply read from a letter written by a district mayor in Guam who said Uruo was quiet, shy and determined, and good at whatever he did. He loved football, swimming and off-roading, and was respectful of his parents.
Uruo is survived by his mother, Iosita, and his father, Isaoshy, both of Barrigad, Guam; his brothers, Iosiro, Joshua, Alanser, and Ivan; and his sisters, Isabele (Liz) and Josephine.
His brother Alanser Uruo joined the Marines after Iosiwo Uruo joined the Army. Alanser also has served in Iraq.
They were never home together on leave while in the military, but now they will be together, Cieply said.
Alanser Uruo will accompany his brother’s body home.
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.