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We Honor and Remember:
Sgt. Eric J. Hernandez
Hometown: Waldwick, New Jersey, U.S. Age: 26 years old Died: December 4, 2007 in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Unit: Army, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, KY. Hernandez, 26, was serving his second tour in Iraq with the Army when the vehicle he was riding in ran over an improvised explosive device in the northern town of Bayji. Two other members of the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment team were killed in the blast. The unit is based at Fort Campbell, Ky. A statement released by his family Saturday called Hernandez, a conscientious, quiet, caring son who was dedicated to serving our nation. Hernandez was so devoted to serving his country that he would have volunteered to serve in Afghanistan or Iraq if his unit had not been deployed to Iraq for his second tour there, the family said. Hernandez was born in Newburgh, N.Y., and raised in West Milford, where he attended West Milford High School and aspired to a career in law enforcement. His family described him as an outdoors type who loved hiking, camping, archery and shooting. He placed second in the 101st Airborne Divisionchr(39)s Top Gun sniper course in northern Iraq. He was a hero who will be forever missed and loved by his family and his many friends. Hernandez is survived by his mother and stepfather, June Alice Augusta and John Augusta of Waldwick, his father and stepmother, Craig Sr. and Trish Hernandez, of Garnerville, N.Y., a brother, Craig, of Sussex, a sister, Toni, of Butler, and a half-sister, Lydia Hernandez, of Garnerville. |
Army Sgt. Hernandez was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He died in Bayji from wounds sustained when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.
From the time Eric was a little kid he played army with his friends – he just wanted to be a soldier. He was raised in West Milford, New Jersey where he attended West Milford High School but ended up earning a high school equivalency diploma.
After graduation, he knew he wanted to join the military and in October 2003 he did. Fellow soldiers remember him as a good soldier who took care of his guys before he would take care of himself. Eric was a decorated soldier, an accomplished marksman and a leader on and off the battlefield. He was a standout sniper who served two tours in Iraq and was the leader of a small group called the Tiger Force snipers.
His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Combat Infantry Badge, the Expert Infantry Badge, the Air Assault Badge, and Weapons Qualification. He was later awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
In his final assignment, he was dispatched as part of a rapid response team to dismantle an improvised explosive device. But the vehicle in which he was a passenger struck another IED on the way there, killing him and two other soldiers. Eric was a compassionate person with a big heart. Several years ago, when his best friend didn't have a reliable car because of financial difficulties, Eric casually gave him his own, saying "You need it more than I do." He was a lover of the outdoors and enjoyed hiking, camping, archery and shooting. The family remembers how he had already made plans for when he left the military – he had taken the civil service test to become a police officer. He wanted nothing more than to have a career in law enforcement.
Awards and Decorations include...
Army Commendation Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal,
National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Combat Infantry Badge,
Expert Infantry Badge, Air Assault Badge, Bronze Star, Purple Heart.
From the time Eric was a little kid he played army with his friends – he just wanted to be a soldier. He was raised in West Milford, New Jersey where he attended West Milford High School but ended up earning a high school equivalency diploma.
After graduation, he knew he wanted to join the military and in October 2003 he did. Fellow soldiers remember him as a good soldier who took care of his guys before he would take care of himself. Eric was a decorated soldier, an accomplished marksman and a leader on and off the battlefield. He was a standout sniper who served two tours in Iraq and was the leader of a small group called the Tiger Force snipers.
His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Combat Infantry Badge, the Expert Infantry Badge, the Air Assault Badge, and Weapons Qualification. He was later awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
In his final assignment, he was dispatched as part of a rapid response team to dismantle an improvised explosive device. But the vehicle in which he was a passenger struck another IED on the way there, killing him and two other soldiers. Eric was a compassionate person with a big heart. Several years ago, when his best friend didn't have a reliable car because of financial difficulties, Eric casually gave him his own, saying "You need it more than I do." He was a lover of the outdoors and enjoyed hiking, camping, archery and shooting. The family remembers how he had already made plans for when he left the military – he had taken the civil service test to become a police officer. He wanted nothing more than to have a career in law enforcement.
Awards and Decorations include...
Army Commendation Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal,
National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Combat Infantry Badge,
Expert Infantry Badge, Air Assault Badge, Bronze Star, Purple Heart.
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New Jersey Run for the Fallen ~ 2023
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