Domingo Arroyo, Jr.

Private First Class Domingo Arroyo, Jr. (March 7, 1971-January 13, 1993), a United States Marine, was the first American serviceman to be killed in Operation Restore Hope during the Somalian Civil War.

Early years

Arroyo was born in Caguas, Puerto Rico. His family moved to mainland United States in 1975, in search of a better way of life. They moved to the city of Elizabeth, New Jersey, where Arroyo received his primary and secondary educations. In his senior year at Elizabeth High School, he enlisted as a "poolee". Even though he graduated with good grades from high school and his family was keen for him to attend college, he was unable to do so because of his family's difficult economic situation.

Military service

In 1989, Arroyo joined the United States Marine Corps and was sent to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in South Carolina where he received his basic training. Upon the completion of his basic training he was deployed with his unit to the Persian Gulf for Operation Desert Storm. After finishing his tour of duty, he was reassigned and sent back to the United States. Arroyo had plans of attending college upon his military discharge with the benefits of the GI Bill.

Somalian Civil War

With the outbreak of the Somalian Civil War, Arroyo, a radio wireman, was sent to Somalia in the relief effort code named Operation Restore Hope with the 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. On January 12, 1993, he was part of a patrol in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, that was ambushed by Somali gunmen.

PFC Domingo Arroyo died from gunshot wounds received in the attack, thus becoming the first of forty four American soldiers and Marines that would die during the Somalian Civil War. He was buried in the Puerto Rico National Cemetery located in the city of Bayamon, Puerto Rico with full military honors.

Tributes

United States Senate

On February 17, 1993, Senator William Warren "Bill" Bradley and the United States Senate paid tribute to PFC Domingo Arroyo Jr.:

Legacy

There is a beach several hundred yards southeast of the Mogadishu Airport that was named "Arroyo Beach" after PFC Arroyo. His name is inscribed in "El Monumento de la Recordacion" (Monument of Remembrance), dedicated to Puerto Rico's fallen soldiers and situated in front of the Capitol Building in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Awards and decorations

•   Purple Heart

•   Combat Action Ribbon

•   Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal

•   Joint Meritorious Unit Award

•   National Defense Service Medal

•   Kuwait Liberation Medal

•   Sea Service Ribbon

See also

• List of famous Puerto Ricans - Military

External links

• Contains a full listing of U.S. soldiers killed in Somalia.