EL PASO, TX, USA U.S. Army SFC, HHC, AREA SUPPORT GROUP KUWAIT, (CFLCC), CAMP ARIFJAN, KUWAIT DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 08/18/2006
Army Sgt. 1st Class Ruben J. Villa Jr., 36, of El Paso, Texas; assigned to Area Support Group (CFLCC), Camp Arifjan, Kuwait; died August 18, 2006 from a non-combat related cause in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom .
A 1988 Bel Air High School graduate who joined the Army and was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom died last week in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Villa was assigned to the Army’s Area Support Group, Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. Although his Army job designation was veterinarian, his duties also included those of environmental control officer.
“Veterinarians over there are sent to deal with the locals’ animals,” said Maj. Nathan Banks, an Army spokesman at the Pentagon. “They also inspect the water we drink . and make sure there are no airborne diseases that will affect the soldiers or the locals.”
He completed five Bataan Death Commemorative Marches held in honor of surviving and fallen soldiers, three full marathons and five half marathons; one in which he helped his wife, Cecilia, run the last three miles.
According to the 1988 Bel Air yearbook, Villa played on the varsity soccer team and in the orchestra, and was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Villa is survived by his wife Cecilia, his daughters Kristle, Jacqui and Jennifer, his son Raul, and his mother.