A 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command soldier died in a vehicle accident Saturday, 11 Feb 12, in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The cause of the accident is currently under investigation.

The Fort Bliss Soldier was PFC Cesar Cortez, 24, of Oceanside, Calif. He served as a network switching systems operator-maintainer with the Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 5th Battalion, 52nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade. He deployed to Bahrain in December 2011 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Cortez joined the Army in March 2011 and arrived to Fort Bliss in October 2011.

Cortez’s awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon.

He is survived by his parents and brother.

PFC Cortez is the 4,495th American to die in support of operations in Iraq … ich hatt’ einen Kameraden