Army Cpl. Joseph A. Blanco

Died April 11, 2006 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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25, of Bloomington, Calif.; assigned to the 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; died April 11 of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Bradley Fighting Vehicle and he subsequently came under small arms fire during combat operations in Taji, Iraq. Also killed were: Pfc. James F. Costello III and Pfc. George R. Roehl Jr.

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Bloomington soldier was a proud uncle

BLOOMINGTON, Calif. — Army Sgt. Joseph A. Blanco was a doting uncle on his last visit home, a Thanksgiving holiday family reunion held just before his return to Iraq.

Blanco, 25, died of injuries received in Taji, Iraq, on April 11 with two other soldiers when an explosive device detonated near their Bradley Fighting Vehicle and they came under small arms fire.

Blanco, Spc. James F. Costello III, 27, of St. Louis, Mo., and Pfc. George R. Roehl Jr., 21, of Manchester, N.H., were killed. All three were assigned to the 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Hood, Texas.

“When we first found out, we all took it so hard. I couldn’t believe it,” sister Candy Blanco said.

Blanco was the second oldest among four siblings in a tightly knit family in Bloomington, a San Bernardino County community 50 miles east of Los Angeles. He enlisted in the Army in 2003.

His family was heartbroken when they found out he was heading for Iraq in July 2003. His mother, Ceferina, constantly worried about him and suffered a heart attack in 2004.

Just before Thanksgiving, he returned home and the family celebrated the holidays with a turkey dinner one night and tamales another night. He doted on his 4-year-old nephew, Derek.

“He was a really good person, kind hearted. He loved to play with kids,” his sister said, adding her brother and Derek were inseparable.

“Anytime he would write to us in letters or e-mails or call us, the very first thing to come out his mouth was, ‘How’s Derek doing? Send me pictures of him. Tell me about him and things he’s done,”’ the soldier’s sister said.

Blanco returned to Iraq in December and was supposed to come home in March, but his stay was extended. The last time the family saw him was March 5 over an Internet video feed.

“He really did believe the war was for a good cause,” his sister said. “He told us, ‘I’m going there because I’m fighting for your freedom.’ “

Blanco planned to go to college after leaving the Army and pursue a career in law enforcement.

Blanco is survived by his father, Jose Antonio; mother, Ceferina; sisters Candy and Jamie; and a brother, Christopher. Funeral arrangements were incomplete.

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Information from: The Sun, http://www.sbsun.com