Age: 21

Hometown: Warner Robbins, GA

Corps Outfit: Squadron 12

Military Unit: 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division

Army Spc. Daniel Enrique Gomez, 21, was killed in Adhamiyah while riding in a vehicle with three other members of his unit. The U.S. Department of Defense said the vehicle was attacked by enemy forces using an improvised explosive device and small-arms fire.

Gomez was a member of the Corps of Cadets when he attended Texas A&M for the 2004-05 school year. David Winslow, who lived in the dorms with him in the spring of 2005, said Gomez left the university to enlist in the Army.

"He was doing well in school and stuff, but he just wanted to be enlisted," Winslow said. "He was pretty intent on serving his country. I know he loved it once he joined."

Gomez was born in San Antonio and lived in Natalia and Georgia before attending Texas A&M on an ROTC scholarship. Winslow, who was a member of the Corps' Squadron 12 with Gomez, said he would be remembered as a roommate who was fun to be around.

"He was a pretty funny guy," Winslow said. "We have a lot of good stories, a lot of fun times as freshmen in the Corps."

Gomez, who had been serving in Iraq since November, went to his family's home in Georgia earlier in the summer for rest-and-recovery leave. It was the last time his parents saw their son.

Winslow said he had been keeping in touch with Gomez through e-mail and the Internet until six months ago. When he heard Gomez had been killed, Winslow said, he was caught off-guard.

"It was crazy because he's the first person I know who was killed in the war," he said. "It was pretty sad. But he did an amazing thing, serving our country."

Services honoring Gomez were held July 30th in Natalia and San Antonio, where he was buried. He received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, signifying selfless service and acts of heroism and valor.

Source: The Bryan-College Station Eagle

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