PLEASANTON, TX, US U.S. Marine Corps SGT, 1ST BN 11TH MAR, (RCT-2, I MEF FWD), 1ST MAR DIV, CAMP PENDLETON, CA 10/31/2007, HELMAND PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN
Sergeant Jose Luis Saenz III was part of the 1st Battalion, 11 Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1 Marine Expeditionary Force based in Camp Pendleton, California. He was serving his first deployment in Afghanistan and had previously deployed with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit to the western Pacific in 2008.
He had already served two tours in Iraq. Sergeant Saenz was thirty years old when he was killed on August 9, 2010 supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Jose had a sister and two other sisters and was the oldest of four children. Joey was born January 27, 1980 in San Antonio, and was a 1999 graduate of Pleasanton High School.
While in school he was a varsity football player and was also active in various activities including art and band. He lived in Pleasanton for 15 years and was a member of St. Matthews Catholic Church in Jourdanton. Joey had many jobs over the years, and it was while working at Wal-Mart that he met his future wife.
Joey joined the United States Marine Corps in 2003. He was a hard worker. He enlisted in the Marine Corps on June 9,
2003. Jose enjoyed football and fishing and attended every Spurs game that he could. He was graciously humble, generous and outgoing. Along with his sisters Jose leaves his wife Christy, and young son Jose. He is a Purple Heart recipient.