CAMP VICTORY IRAQ (BAGHDAD, IRAQ) – On 12 July, Al Faw Palace Camp Victory Brigadier General Kurt Stein Director CJ 1/4/8 Multinational Forces Iraq – Iraq hosted 20 civilians in presenting the Secretary of Defense Medal for the Defense of Freedom. The presentation included Mr. Eloy Ortega a former resident of Rio Grande City, Texas. The Defense of Freedom Medal is the civilian equivalent of the military’s Purple Heart Medal. The first recipients to be honored were those Department of Defense civilians injured or killed as a result of the attack on the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. Mr. Eloy Ortega was awarded the medal as of results from injuries while he was on duty in Iraq. On August 17, 2006 Eloy was hit by glass shrapnel from an enemy incoming 82MM Mortar on Joint Base Balad, Iraq. Soon after recovery Eloy returned to continue his work as a water purification manager in support of soldiers and Airman at Joint Base Balad. Eloy served as the Army Unit Administrator in Rio Grande City for the Army Reserve’s 971st QM Det and 600TC from 1997 to 2000. Attending the ceremony in support of Eloy were Mr. Ruben Alvarado (Rio Grande City High School Class of 1979) and Army Lieutenant Colonel Ross Barrera (Rio Grande City High School Class of 1984) who both call Rio Grande City, Texas home. Eloy is currently employed with Kellogg, Brown and Root (KBR) at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. He is married to Ayde Saenz from Roma, Texas and they have three children. Mr. and Mrs. Eloy Ortega presently reside in Cypress, Texas.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Defense of Freedom Medal awarded to Eloy Ortega
CAMP VICTORY IRAQ (BAGHDAD, IRAQ) – On 12 July, Al Faw Palace Camp Victory Brigadier General Kurt Stein Director CJ 1/4/8 Multinational Forces Iraq – Iraq hosted 20 civilians in presenting the Secretary of Defense Medal for the Defense of Freedom. The presentation included Mr. Eloy Ortega a former resident of Rio Grande City, Texas. The Defense of Freedom Medal is the civilian equivalent of the military’s Purple Heart Medal. The first recipients to be honored were those Department of Defense civilians injured or killed as a result of the attack on the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. Mr. Eloy Ortega was awarded the medal as of results from injuries while he was on duty in Iraq. On August 17, 2006 Eloy was hit by glass shrapnel from an enemy incoming 82MM Mortar on Joint Base Balad, Iraq. Soon after recovery Eloy returned to continue his work as a water purification manager in support of soldiers and Airman at Joint Base Balad. Eloy served as the Army Unit Administrator in Rio Grande City for the Army Reserve’s 971st QM Det and 600TC from 1997 to 2000. Attending the ceremony in support of Eloy were Mr. Ruben Alvarado (Rio Grande City High School Class of 1979) and Army Lieutenant Colonel Ross Barrera (Rio Grande City High School Class of 1984) who both call Rio Grande City, Texas home. Eloy is currently employed with Kellogg, Brown and Root (KBR) at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. He is married to Ayde Saenz from Roma, Texas and they have three children. Mr. and Mrs. Eloy Ortega presently reside in Cypress, Texas.
Son-in-law of RGC native graduates Army War College
Army Col. Randolph C. White Jr. has graduated from the U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Carlisle, Pa., and earned a master's degree in Strategic Studies. The college is the Army's senior educational institution.
The 12-month curriculum of the Army's senior officer school is designed to prepare and train officers of all the U.S. military branches of service, foreign military officers, as well as senior civilian officials of federal agencies, to serve in top-level command and staff positions with the U.S. Armed Forces worldwide. International officers also attend the school and receive training to prepare them the serve in comparable high-level positions. Students are selected by a highly competitive selection board process.
Students partake in the Army's highest level of formal education with the mission of preparing selected leaders to assume strategic leadership responsibilities in military and national security organizations.
The graduate completed the Army's highest level of formal education with the mission of preparing selected leaders to assume strategic leadership responsibilities in military and national security organization. The officers will serve in national strategic or theater strategic environments either directly or as advisers to the senior leadership of the Armed Forces, the Department of Defense, other governmental agencies, or in foreign militaries.
The colonel will be assigned to the U.S. Africa Command, Germany, and is a veteran of 21 years military service.
White is the son of Randolph C. White Sr. and Karen V. White of Hallmark Road, Fayetteville, N.C.
His wife, Velma, is the daughter of Ludivina Garcia of Rio Grande City, Texas.
He is a 1981 graduate of Reid Ross High School, Fayetteville. White received a bachelor's degree in 1986 from Campbell University, Buies Creek, N.C., and earned a master's degree in 1999 from the U.S. Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
The 12-month curriculum of the Army's senior officer school is designed to prepare and train officers of all the U.S. military branches of service, foreign military officers, as well as senior civilian officials of federal agencies, to serve in top-level command and staff positions with the U.S. Armed Forces worldwide. International officers also attend the school and receive training to prepare them the serve in comparable high-level positions. Students are selected by a highly competitive selection board process.
Students partake in the Army's highest level of formal education with the mission of preparing selected leaders to assume strategic leadership responsibilities in military and national security organizations.
The graduate completed the Army's highest level of formal education with the mission of preparing selected leaders to assume strategic leadership responsibilities in military and national security organization. The officers will serve in national strategic or theater strategic environments either directly or as advisers to the senior leadership of the Armed Forces, the Department of Defense, other governmental agencies, or in foreign militaries.
The colonel will be assigned to the U.S. Africa Command, Germany, and is a veteran of 21 years military service.
White is the son of Randolph C. White Sr. and Karen V. White of Hallmark Road, Fayetteville, N.C.
His wife, Velma, is the daughter of Ludivina Garcia of Rio Grande City, Texas.
He is a 1981 graduate of Reid Ross High School, Fayetteville. White received a bachelor's degree in 1986 from Campbell University, Buies Creek, N.C., and earned a master's degree in 1999 from the U.S. Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Starr County Baseball Players Shine in Valley All Star Game
On Friday June 26, 2009 fans from Rio Grande City and Roma drove to Sharyland to show support for three baseball players from Starr County who were selected to play in the West Valley All Star Team. The players are Albert Salinas (Catcher) and Fernando Garza (Pitcher) representing Roma High School Gladiators and Vicente Rodriguez, III (Second Base) representing the Rio Grande City High School Rattlers. The players gave it their all and assisted their team in the 11 to 1 win over the East All Star Valley Team. Among the fans was Starr County Sheriff Rene Fuentes who is an avid baseball fan. Pictured: Vicente Rodriguez, III, Fernando Garza, Sheriff Rene Fuentes and Albert Salinas.
Starr County Receives Emergency Technical Communication Unit
Starr County Receives a Technical Communication Unit to aid law enforcement agencies during disasters. The unit was acquired through the collaboration of The Starr County Commissioners Court, Starr County Sheriff, Rio Grande City and Roma Police Departments and the Starr County Emergency Coordinator. The unit is a command center for information equipped with sophisticated satellite computer technology, cameras, telephone, radar, radio communication and much more. A training session for the various law enforcement entities was held recently to showcase the capabilities of the command center.
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