Juan always had time for everyone, especially for his boys. This story below, is who is was and how much he gave.
Fort Lewis honors soldier, Scout leader
BRENT CHAMPACO; The News Tribune
Published: March 11th, 2005 12:01 AM
The legacy left by Army Staff Sgt. Juan Solorio may be seen most clearly through the eyes of the youths he influenced most.
Friends and family knew the Fort Lewis soldier killed March 4 in Iraq as a loving husband and father. Fellow soldiers referred to him simply as “Solo.”
But to those in the post’s Boy Scout Troop 62, Solorio was a role model who coached them through a 50-mile hike near Chehalis last year. The 32-year-old from Dallas was a fixture at their weekly meetings and a father figure to boys whose parents are fighting overseas.
“He would just bring everybody’s spirits up,” said 14-year-old Scout Cisco Paulino. “I’ll miss him a lot.”
Cisco joined about 300 other Scouts, soldiers, friends and family who paid tribute to Solorio during a tearful memorial service Thursday at Fort Lewis’ Evergreen Chapel. Solorio died when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle in Mosul. His unit was under attack by enemy forces using small firearms, according to military officials.
Solorio was part of the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division – the second Fort Lewis Stryker brigade to go to Iraq. It has lost 21 soldiers since deploying in October.
With Solorio’s death, the 1-25 has now lost one more soldier in six months than its predecessor, the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, lost in a year.
Solorio is the 48th Fort Lewis-based soldier to die in Iraq.
On Thursday, mourners bowed their heads and tried to find solace, whether in a Bible verse or a funny story from one of Solorio’s fellow soldiers.
His family listened as speakers described his love for them. His wife, Gabby, sat with sons Julian, 11, and Max, 8, and other family members. The Solorios would have celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary March 18.
Sgt. 1st Class Creed McCaslin recalled when he was benched on a local softball team. Solorio comforted him with promises of beer and barbecue, albeit in his usual, joking fashion.
“If it was an ugly day, Solo was often the one who threw that sense of humor in,” McCaslin said.
Friends also spoke about Solorio’s love for the outdoors and his competitive nature.
After the traditional rifle salute and the bugle rendition of “Taps,” mourners lined the chapel’s center aisle leading to a picture of the soldier. Included in that line were about 20 boys who donned beige Boy Scout uniforms and badges.
“He was like a dad to all the boys whose dads are deployed,” said Margie Huhner, who attended the memorial with William, her 12-year-old son and Troop 62 Scout member.
Fort Lewis’ Scouts will miss Solorio’s ability to comfort and encourage those who needed it most, said Don Castanares, the troop’s scoutmaster.
“It’s hard with this loss,” said Castanares, his eyes watering behind a pair of thick, black lenses. “The boys who have their dads in Iraq right now are realizing their dads might not come home, either.”