Army Sgt. Reuben M. Fernandez III

Died October 11, 2008 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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22, of Abilene, Texas; assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; died on Oct. 11 of wounds sustained when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device in Majar Al Kabir, Iraq.

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Sgt. described as being ‘a man of stength’

The Associated Press

On leave and staying in Abilene, Texas, Reuben M. Fernandez III called his mother at work in San Angelo and asked if she had lunch plans.

“I said ‘I don’t know,’ and I look up, and there he is walking in the door,” said Aurora Fernandez. “He was funny like that. He drove all the way to San Angelo, and we had lunch.”

Fernandez, 22, of Abilene, died Oct. 11 after his vehicle struck a bomb in Majar Al Kabir. He was a 2004 high school graduate and was assigned to Fort Hood.

“Marcus was all smiles and all heart. His eyes spoke to everyone. His laughter was infectious,” said cousin Ruben De La Garza.

Fernandez was well known for stealing the ball while playing basketball at Clack Middle School, so his friends took to calling him “Crook.”

He was deployed to Iraq in December 2005 and returned the following December.

At his funeral, pastor Brian Daniels said Fernandez was loving and respectful, “the most respectful man I have ever known.”

“Marcus was such a man of strength,” Daniels said. “Marcus worried more about us over here than we worried about him over there.”