California’s War Dead

Lester G. Roque, 23

Army, Corporal

Based: Vicenza, Italy

2nd Battalion, 503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team

Supporting: Operation Enduring Freedom

Died: November 10, 2007

Aranus, Afghanistan

Engaged

Gender: Male

Hometown: Torrance

Foreign Country of Birth: Philippines

Burial: Forest Lawn Memorial-Park, Cypress

Soldier. That was his life. And he was a good soldier. A good son. Twice a week he called. When I talked to him, I told him always, 'Watch your back. You are in the war.'

— Tony Roque, father, in the Long Beach Press-Telegram

Roque was born in the Philippines and came to the U.S. with his family in 2003, according to the Long Beach Press-Telegram. He took classes at Harbor College and worked several jobs while waiting for his green card, which took about a year, then enlisted in the Army.