Army Staff Sgt. Juan Solorio was the Veteran of the Day on May 28, 2023 in support of Carry The Load's Memorial May National Relay.

Army Staff Sgt. Juan Solorio was born on November 23, 1972, in Dallas, Texas. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington.  According to military.com, he was killed on March 4, 2005, in Mosul, Iraq when an improvised explosive device detonated near his military vehicle as his unit was being attacked by enemy forces using small-arms fire.  Solorio served as a sniper instructor before he deployed to Iraq in October 2004.

He was 32-years old.  Solorio was the 144th Texan to die in Iraq since March 2003 according to the Associated Press.

Prior to enlisting, he graduated from a Dallas Magnet high school with an emphasis in healthcare professions, but he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1993 and never looked back.  Solorio decided to make the military his career.  He graduated from the U.S. Army Infantry School at Fort Benning Georgia. His duty assignments included Fort Hood, Texas, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and Fort Lewis, Washington. Solorio’s career included deployments to Japan, Thailand, Haiti, Egypt, and Iraq.

An avid outdoorsman, Solorio spent his off-duty time camping, hiking and rock climbing.  He also was a scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 62 and Cub Scout Pack 461, so he could spend quality time with his sons, 11-year-old Julian and 8-year-old Maximilian.  In a statement to the Associated Press in 2005, his wife Gabby described him “as an extraordinary son, husband, and soldier.  He died with his boots on and we would have it no other way.”  Solorio and his wife would have celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary on March 18. 

His military awards include the Army Commendation Medal with Oakleaf cluster, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal with Oakleaf cluster, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the Multinational Force and observers Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Expeditionary. Solorio was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart posthumously.  He also earned the Combat Infantryman Badge, Air Assault Badge, and Jump Master Badge with cluster.  

Army Staff Sergeant Juan Solorio was laid to rest at Dallas/Fort Worth National Cemetery.  To post a tribute or comment in his honor, please visit his Veterans Legacy Memorial page at https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/JUANMSOLORIO/34277C8. 

Carry The Load Memorial May National Relay
For the sixth consecutive year, VA joins forces with volunteers to march in honor of Veterans and service members during the Memorial May National Relay starting on April 27.  The annual collaboration with VA’s National Cemetery Administration includes rallies at 38 national cemeteries during a 20,000-mile march along five separate routes covering 48 states. All five routes converge on Memorial Day weekend for a final rally in Dallas, Texas. The list of national cemeteries, along with the dates and times that they will be visited by Carry The Load marchers, can be found here. 

Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery

Prayers of strength and grace for the family. Honor + service.

May God bless and keep you always, Juan.  My sincere respect and gratitude to you and your family, Sir


He had to be a wonderful man. God bless his family.

May his memory be eternal. We lost a person who could have made this world better.

Memorial Day Weekend 2023
Proud Vietnam Veterans Daughter
Love and miss you

JUAN M SOLORIO

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