Gonzalez, Luis Manuel
Male
Verified U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Luis Manuel Gonzalez, 27, of South Ozone Park, New York, died on October 27, 2009, in Afghanistan's Arghandab Valley.
Their Story
Luis Manuel Gonzalez was a 27-year-old soldier from South Ozone Park, a neighborhood in Queens, New York. He served with Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, part of the 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, based at Fort Lewis, Washington. His military service reportedly included deployments to the Philippines and the Horn of Africa prior to his assignment to Afghanistan.
On October 27, 2009, Gonzalez was killed by hostile fire in the Arghandab Valley of Kandahar province, Afghanistan. The Department of Defense announced his death the following day. At the time, his unit was engaged in operations in the valley, a known insurgent stronghold and a focal point of the coalition's efforts in southern Afghanistan.
Gonzalez's death occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. The Arghandab Valley was a strategically significant agricultural district where insurgent forces contested control, leading to intense fighting throughout 2009 and 2010 as U.S. forces surged troop levels.
Following his death, Gonzalez was posthumously promoted from Staff Sergeant to Sergeant First Class. His body was returned to the United States, and he was buried at Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York.
He is remembered by his unit and community. A street in South Ozone Park was co-named 'SFC Luis M. Gonzalez Way' in his honor.
Explore Further
SFC Luis Gonzalez was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–2014). The conflict concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.
