EL MONTE, CA, USA U.S. Army SPC, COMPANY G, 15TH BRIGADE SUPPORT BATTALION, FORT HOOD, TX FORT SAM HOUSTON 09/07/2007
Army Specialist Marisol Heredia was assigned to the 15th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. Specialist Heredia died on September 7, 2007 as a result of complications from burns suffered while refueling a generator. She died at Brook Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas after two months of battling complications from the accident. Marisol followed her older sister in to the Army and her sister had just been discharged a short time prior to the accident. Her sister was able to be with her in the medical center to provide her some comfort.
Marisol, whose name means “stunning” had a reputation for being a strong-willed, perceptive young woman. She was nineteen years old. She was well thought of and appreciated by many from her teachers in school to the guys she served with, not only in her own unit, but also in sister units; and she was like a little sister to many of her Battle Buddies.
She was from El Monte, California, and just someone you wanted to be around. Marisol Heredia had a single-mindedness to serve and to experience life in other parts of the world. California Governor Arnold Schwartzenager paid tribute to Specials Heredia noting that she was a champion of freedom and represented the highest ideals of our country and ordered flags to be flown at half-mast in her honor.
On July 15, 2008 Congresswoman Hilda Solis and VFW Post 10218 along with the Mountain View High School band, and community honored Marisol as they dedicated and re-named the El Monte, California Post Office in her honor. In accordance with Congressional special legislation Public Law #110-267 directed the renaming of the postal facility to the Specialist Marisol Heredia Post Office of El Monte.