The Department of Defense announced today the death of Command Sgt. Maj. Martin R Barreras, 49, of Tucson, Arizona, who died May 13 at then San Antonio Military Medical Center, from wounds suffered on May 6, in Harat Province, Afghanistan, when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire.
Command Sgt. Barreras, who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, graduated from Sunnyside High School.
He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas.
SGM Barreras entered the Army in 1988 after serving in the U.S. Marine Corps for five years. After completing Advanced Individual Training, Airborne School, and 75th Ranger Regimental Indoctrination Program at Fort Benning, Georgia, he was assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Lewis, Washington. He was assigned to the 75th Ranger Regimental Training Unit at Fort Benning, Georgia in 2000. He has served every position including squad leader, platoon sergeant, first sergeant, Regimental Reconnaissance Company sergeant major, and Joint Special Operation Task Force sergeant major. He served multiple combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, and also deployed in support of Operation Just Cause in Panama and Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti.
Military Schooling and Decorations:
• Schools: Advanced Individual Training, Airborne School and 75th Ranger Regimental Indoctrination Program, Fort Benning, Georgia, (1988); Ranger School; Marine Corps Advanced Amphibious Warfare Course; Military Free Fall Course; Jumpmaster Course; Pathfinder Course; Jungle Operations Training Course.
• Award and Decorations: Bronze Star Medal w/ V Device, three Bronze Star Medals, Purple Heart, three Meritorious Service Medals. Two Joint Service Commendation Medals, four Army Commendation Medals, Joint Service Achievement Medal, four Army Achievement Medals, six good Conduct Medals, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Bronze Arrowhead, Two Iraqi Campaign Medals with gold Star, two Afghanistan Campaign Medals, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, two Humanitarian Service Medals, four Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Medals, Ranger Tab, two Combat Infantryman’s Badges, Expert Infantryman’s badge, Master Parachutist Badge with Bronze Star, Pathfinder Badge, Military Free Fall Badge, and German, Chilean, Guatemalan, Peruvian, and Brazilian Parachutist Badges.