Army
Line of Duty Death: October 25, 2012

Sergeant Clinton K. Ruiz, 22, was killed October 25, 2012 while serving with the United States Army in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. 

SGT Ruiz, of the 9th Military Information Support Battalion (Airborne), 8th Military Information Support Group (Airborne) in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, was shot and killed by small arms fire while in Khas Uruzgan, Afghanistan.

Ruiz enlisted after graduating from California’s Murrieta Valley High School in 2008. He met his wife Kira in a training camp. The couple got married after Kira’s deployment was moved up.

His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Afghan  Campaign Medal (Campaign Star), Global War on Terrorism Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Army  Service Ribbon, and the Parachutist Badge.

Ruiz is survived by Kira and their son Caleb. The family received a mortgage-free home through the Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s Gold Star Family program in Concord, NC on June 8, 2018.

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