WTHR |Hamilton Co. family mourns son killed in Baghdad

Hamilton Co. family mourns son killed in Baghdad

Jennie Runevitch/Eyewitness News

Hamilton County - A graduate of Hamilton Southeastern High School is the latest Hoosier casualty in Iraq. Army Reservist Zachariah Gonzalez, 23, died Tuesday when his armored vehicle ran over an explosive device. His family talked about his courage and their loss.

The Gonzalez family is very close, and derives strength from prayer. So with news that Zachariah Gonzalez died on active duty, they've had to lean on their faith more than ever. They describe him as a proud American soldier, a man of strong friendship and deep Catholic faith.

"Zach would often call home and ask his family to pray for the wounded and for those lost while he was in Iraq," said Manuel Gonzalez, Zach's uncle.

Now the prayers are for Zach himself. "Zach was a child, then a man, of vision and passion, always sure of where he was going and what he wanted," said his uncle.

Out of high school at Hamilton Southeastern, Zach wanted to join the Army. He enlisted in the Reserves and was assigned to the culinary division because of his cooking skills. But Zach wanted to serve his country in a bigger way.

"He wanted to be in the infantry and as Sergeant McCord has said, he wanted to be in the front," said Manuel Gonzalez.

That's where he was July 31st, the feast day for St. Ignatius of Loyola, the patron saint for warriors. Zach Gonzalez was on the front lines in Baghdad, riding in a Stryker on a mission. An improvised explosive device - one that can penetrate armor - went off under the vehicle. Zach and three of his fellow soldiers died in the attack.

"Zach was a combat infantryman, so he was...a hero," said Gonzalez.

Zach should have been home the day he died, but the Army extended his tour of duty. Now, Zach's cousin, also serving in Iraq and on extended duty, will reunite this family of faith.

"He said this morning to his mother in Houston, 'Mom, I now know why I was supposed to stay here. I was supposed to...bring Zach home," said Gonzalez.

Zach's cousin will escort his body home to Indianapolis. Funeral arrangements are still pending, but the funeral Mass will likely be held next week at St. Monica's.