Army Cpl. Michael M. Rojas

Died April 18, 2007 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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21, of Fresno, Calif.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.; died April 18 in Taji, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations. Also killed was Cpl. Wade J. Oglesby.

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Clovis soldier dies in Baghdad

The Associated Press

CLOVIS, Calif. — A former high school football player who was scheduled to return from Iraq over the summer was killed in Baghdad, his family said.

Army Spc. Michael Rojas, 21, died April 17, according to his father David Esquivil. The Department of Defense could not immediately confirm Rojas’ death.

Rojas enlisted after graduating in 2004 from Clovis East High School, where he played football for four years. He deployed to Iraq in June 2006, family members said.

“I got a letter from him recently saying he was in Baghdad, and it was dangerous,” Esquivil said. “He was looking forward to being back home, but was proud to be serving.”

Officials at Rojas’ alma mater held a moment of silence for the soldier April 19.

“He was a pretty good kid and a better-than-average athlete,” Clovis East football coach Tim Murphy said. “He went out the most honorable way you could go out.”

Rojas is survived by his parents and four sisters.