Note: This article was originally published on Aug. 14, 2005. We’re re-posting it now for our Colorado’s Fallen tribute.
A Marine from Gypsum was killed in Iraq last week, nearly three years after he joined the corps with hopes for a better future.
Lance Cpl. Evenor C. Herrera, 22, died Wednesday from injuries he suffered when a bomb exploded during combat west of Baghdad, Iraq, near Ramadi, the Department of Defense said Friday.
“He was a great person. He was an American hero,” his brother, Balmore Herrera, said in a telephone interview. “He was a great person, and he won’t be forgotten by us.”
Evenor Herrera was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Camp Pendleton in California.
Balmore Herrera, 20, also a Marine, recently joined the same division as his brother and said Evenor joined the Marines in November 2002.
“I just know he wanted a better future. He didn’t want a dead-end job,” he said.
The unit was conducting combat operations at the time of the attacks, and Evenor Herrera was serving as a machine gunner, his brother said. Herrera’s unit was attached to the 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, the Defense Department said.
The brothers last spoke about three weeks ago and talked about going to Las Vegas in November. Balmore Herrera learned from his mother that his older brother had died.
“It still hasn’t hit me yet. I know about it, but I don’t want to believe it,” he said.
The brothers also have two older sisters.
Evenor Herrera graduated from Eagle Valley High School in 2001 and enjoyed fishing, snowboarding and spending time with family and friends.
“He had a positive attitude. He always looked at the brighter side of things, no matter the situation,” Balmore Herrera said.
“He always wanted to be in charge, pretty much. He was a good brother. We’re only a year apart. We had a lot of fun,” he said.
Memorial services are pending.
Evenor Herrera had received a number of awards, including the Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, officials at Camp Pendleton said.
Dave Scott, Eagle Valley High School’s athletic and activities director, said Evenor Herrera was quiet and focused.
“He was a good student, fit right in. He was a very good role model for our Hispanic population, a great kid,” Scott said.
At least 106 troops with Colorado ties have died in Iraq, according to a database of casualties compiled by The Associated Press. Twenty-five had Colorado hometowns, including three based at Fort Carson, near Colorado Springs. Overall, 83 Fort Carson-based soldiers have died, according to the database. An Army reservist with the 244th Engineer Battalion who was from Colorado also died.
At least two servicemen with Colorado hometowns were killed in Afghanistan this summer.
