Soldier Who Grew Up In El Paso Killed In Iraq

EL PASO, Texas- An Army National Guard soldier who grew up in El Paso has died while serving in Iraq.

According to the Department of Defense, 40-year-old Sergeant Thomas Ray was killed over the weekend when a roadside bomb struck the vehicle he was riding in near Baghdad.

Ray was born in Asheville, North Carolina, but grew up in El Paso. A family member tells ABC-7 he graduated from Socorro High School in 1987. According to the family member, Ray was involved with ROTC while at Socorro High. He joined the Navy shortly aftergraduation and served three years. He joined the National Guard in May of 2006.

Ray is survived by his wife and a teenage daughter.

In a statement released Wednesday, his wife said, “He loved the military. He wanted to save lives and bring back the younger guys. He’s a loving husband and father who is irreplaceable and will be greatly missed.”

So far more than 4,000 Americans have died while serving in Iraq since the start of the war.