FORT CARSON SOLDIER DIES AFTER ROLLOVER

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Nov 15, 2008 | by --

Fort Carson Spc. Armando A. De La Paz Jr., 21, of Riverside, Calif., died Nov. 13 in Baghdad of injuries suffered during a vehicle rollover.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

De La Paz was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 4th Infantry Division.

He was on his second tour of duty in Iraq; he first deployed in December 2005 -- six months after joining the Army -- and came home in October 2006. He redeployed in December 2007, reported The Press- Enterprise, Riverside's local newspaper.

The son of Armando and Elisabeth De La Paz of Riverside, De La Paz was known by his English teacher at Arlington High School as a "voracious reader," The Press-Enterprise reported.

"I pictured him being a college English professor," Scott Godwin told the newspaper.

"The Color Purple" by Alice Walker, "Rain of Gold" by Victor Villaseor and "Kaffir Boy" by Mark Mathabane were some of the books De La Paz read in high school and would talk to Godwin about privately, not wanting to trump other students in class, Godwin told The Press-Enterprise.

"I've never met anybody that concerned about how other people might feel," Godwin told the newspaper. "He was just the most gentle, intelligent kid."

The soldier's parents declined to speak to the newspaper, saying they would consider commenting after the Army investigation is complete.

De La Paz was awarded a Purple Heart and two Army Commendation Medals, among many other awards.

He is the 245th Fort Carson soldier killed in Iraq since the war began in 2003.