Re: Estrella Soto Remembered

Date: March 24, 2004

"Estrella Soto Remembered

Ruben Estrella-Soto's father says it's like reliving every emotion felt on March 23, when they were told their son was missing in action.

A year has gone by and Ruben Estrella Senior says his family is still searching for closure.

The Fort Bliss National cemetery has become a familiar place for Ruben Estrella Senior.

At his son's grave, flowers are never missing.

Even though today he visits like he does so many times, it's different.

Ruben Estrella, "It was this day, a year ago, that our hearts were broken. It was when we receive the scar that we still carry."

Private Ruben Estrella Soto was one of the nine soldiers of the 507th maintenance Company who was killed in the ambush in An Nasiriyah. It happened in the morning hours of March 23, 2003. It was later that day, the Estrella family would get the news.

Estrella, "It's like it's the same day when we received the news... Because we're like reliving what happened. It's something that we try to deal with as much as possible but we can't."

Today, a year later, Ruben keeps searching for answers that no one can seem to give him.

Estrella, "When Ruben and the driver pass the other vehicles, they shot at the enemy trying to protect what was left of the convoy. Then the vehicle crashed and they didn't know what became of him."

He says he's spoken to 507th soldiers involved in the ambush and they tell him they lost track of where he was.

For Ruben, this is not enough. And although he's still against the war effort, he's proud of his son.

Estrella, "He really wanted to go, nobody forced him. He only wanted to fight for his country and he was proud of that. That's what gives me strength."

About a month after the attack, the Estrella family was presented with the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart for their son's efforts in the war.


Copyright 2004 by KFOXTV"