[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 161 (Tuesday, October 25, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1929]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          IN HONOR OF U.S. ARMY SPECIALIST RICARDO CERROS JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 25, 2011

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of U.S. Army 
Specialist Ricardo Cerros Jr., 24, of Salinas, California, who died in 
a firefight on October 8, 2011 in Logar Provence, Afghanistan. His last 
act of courage was to pull a fellow soldier to safety and shield him 
from enemy fire. He is a hero to the people of the United States and we 
express our gratitude for his service to our country. His selfless act 
is one that will never be forgotten.
  Ricardo ``Rick'' Cerros Jr. was born November 2, 1986 in Fort Ord, 
California to Ricardo Cerros and Marguerite Quiroz. He spent some time 
in Indiana before returning to California's Central Coast when he was 8 
years old. Rick attended Everett Alvarez High School in Salinas, 
California. There he followed his interest in service by joining the 
school's Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps. His leadership 
and dedication led him to become the commanding officer of the program. 
Moreover, I was honored to nominate Rick to the United States Service 
Academies in 2004.
  After high school, Rick attended the University of California, Irvine 
and was active with the school's Taekwondo club, becoming the first 
member to achieve a black belt rating. After graduating in 2010, Rick 
enlisted in the United States Army. He would go on and join our 
nation's finest as an Army Ranger assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 
75th Ranger Regiment.
  October 8, 2011 was Rick's first combat mission. During that night 
raid, an enemy combatant rushed his platoon, wounding Sergeant Moore. 
Instinctively, Rick ran to the wounded platoon sergeant and pulled him 
to safety. Then he performed a heroic act by placing himself between 
the sergeant and the enemy. Sergeant Moore lives today because of 
Rick's sacrifice.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the entire House, I would like to extend 
the nation's deepest sympathies to Rick's mother Marguerite Quiroz, his 
father and stepmother Ricardo and Deborah Cerros, and his siblings 
Nicholas, Theresa and Marko Cerros. Specialist Ricardo Cerros Jr. 
served his nation honorably, and sacrificed his life to save a fellow 
comrade. He is an American hero.

                          ____________________