California’s War Dead

    Joshua W. Soto, 25

    Army, Sergeant
    Tallil, Iraq
    Gender: Male
    Hometown: Avenal
    I would have liked for him to go to college, but with the hand we were dealt, that was the best we could do.
    — Air Force Sgt. Shane Soto, brother

    When Soto was 13, he was traveling with his mother and grandfather on a two-lane highway on the way to Nevada when a driver in an oncoming car fell asleep behind the wheel. With their father in and out of jail, he and his brother Shane went to live with a family friend outside Bakersfield. After his brother joined the Air Force, Soto enlisted in the Army. Soto was killed when a makeshift bomb exploded near his vehicle south of Baghdad.
    Times obituary
    KMPH-TV story on Soto's death
    « Justin A. Casillas, 07/04/2009
    Kafele H. Sims, 06/16/2009 »
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    One memory of Joshua W. Soto

    Joshua my best friend I miss you so much you were strong and gentle and all about the soldiers you were a primary example of what a leader is suppose to be you are greatly missed my brother in arms and I will always love you, miss you and honor you my hero Joshua Soto

    — ronald rodas
    April 3, 2010 at 10:04 a.m.
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    About this project
    Sources: Times research, Defense Department, iCasualties.org
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    California's War Dead is the Los Angeles Times' collection of stories about the 700 California servicemembers and 474 others based in California who died during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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