360:. After completion of Boot Camp, he was immediately stationed to Camp Lejeune, NC and assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines as an Infantry machine gunner, henceforth being known as "Gunny." Just a few months after getting to the battalion he would be sifting through the rubble of a terminal in Beirut, Lebanon, recovering 273 of his fellow Marines from the devastation left behind by terrorists who bombed the headquarters. It was during his five years as a Marine that half of his left ring finger was severed, an event about which he was notorious for concocting ever changing, entertaining stories of how it occurred. He kept the remainder of his finger in a jar of formaldehyde, often on his desk.
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have him as my command sergeant major...While every soldier in this formation is extremely saddened by his loss, his
Bobcats are doing exactly what he would expect of us: continuing on with the mission and taking the fight to the enemy. This man would do absolutely anything and everything to ensure his soldiers came home safely."
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was departing the command for another assignment, they decided to do his
Farewell virtually with people video-teleconferencing from locations whenever they were operating. Barreras came in from Islamabad. When the camera went to him, instead of sitting there and saying goodbye to Bill, he was dressed
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Barreras was mourned by those he served with. Lt. Col. Edward Brady, commander of 2nd
Battalion, said, "Command Sgt. Maj. Barreras was my friend and battle buddy. I've spent more time with him than my wife since I've taken command. I believe that I was the luckiest battalion commander in the Army to
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Before joining the USAMU, Barreras served a cumulative 49 months deployed overseas. He added to this total as the
Sergeant Major of the USAMU where he led the Unit to maintain a persistent presence in Afghanistan, training the Afghan Army and Coalition Forces on Marksmanship skills, a historic first
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His family shared, "Marty was a soldier's soldier, putting his men first. He refused to sit behind a desk and participated in every patrol and mission, always leading from the front. Marty was extremely humble and the epitome of a "quiet professional." With a contagious laugh and talent for
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whistling, Marty's sense of humor broke down barriers and kept morale high. Devoted to his family, Marty was cherished at home and by his extended family. Though he rarely had free time, he knew how to spend it. He was an avid rodeo bull rider, marksman, spear fisherman,
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Barreras was known for his humor as much as his military accomplishments. One story shared with his family by a fellow soldier was during
Barreras' extended work in Pakistan working with Pakistani military forces. A night in June 2006 when Admiral
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as "special his professional competence, combined with his infectious personality made him a larger-than-life leader to
Rangers of every rank" as shared with his family.
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579:, the distinctive President of Pakistan. He proceeded to have "Musharraf" give a tribute and farewell to Bill that was hilarious and made the evening for everyone.
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breeder, classically-trained singer, bow hunter, mountain climber, cumbia and western dancer, "rangerball" and rugby player, motorcyclist on his
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453:. They were deployed to Afghanistan in December 2013. On 6 May 2014, Barreras was severely wounded by enemy small arms fire in
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in 1982. During school he lettered in varsity football, wrestling, choir ensemble, as well as playing on the basketball team.
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Roy P. Benavidez NCO Academy was named the CSM Martin R. Barreras
Academic Leadership Chair in his honor. Retired
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730:"Army Ranger who helped rescue Jessica Lynch dies from wounds sustained in Afghanistan"
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It may require cleanup to comply with
Knowledge (XXG)'s content policies, particularly
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419:. Barreras totaled nearly 60 months deployed since 9/11 at the time of his death.
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in 2003. He also helped recover the bodies of Lynch's fellow soldiers, including
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763:"Fort Bliss' command sergeant major dies from wounds suffered in Afghanistan"
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629:"Soldier who helped in Jessica Lynch rescue dies after Afghanistan attack"
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ordered state flags to be flown at half-mast in recognition of his death.
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American military personnel killed in the War in
Afghanistan (2001–2021)
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794:"WHINSEC Creates Academic Chair for the Roy P. Benavidez NCO Academy"
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561:, CSM (RET) Argemiro Posso Rivera, was appointed to fill the chair.
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United States Army personnel of the War in
Afghanistan (2001–2021)
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In 1988, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and successfully passed the
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659:"Soldier from Tucson dies from wounds suffered in Afghanistan"
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On April 4, 2022, the first academic chair established at the
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595:, and history buff with special interest in warfare and his
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In March 2013, Barreras transferred to the 2nd Battalion,
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A major contributor to this article appears to have a
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where he succumbed to his wounds several days later.
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387:. While with the Ranger regiment, he deployed for
349:, in 1974 where he attended and graduated from
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447:3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division
322:(October 7, 1964 – May 13, 2014) was a
8:
910:United States Army personnel of the Iraq War
422:Barreras played a key role in the rescue of
698:"Army Command Sgt. Maj. Martin R. Barreras"
329:who played a crucial role in the rescue of
792:Rodriguez, Milton Mariani (4 April 2022).
345:, on October 7, 1964. His family moved to
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61:Learn how and when to remove this message
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826:"Governor orders flags at half-staff"
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459:San Antonio Military Medical Center
397:Operation Restore/Uphold Democracy
356:In 1983, Barreras enlisted in the
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905:People from Tularosa, New Mexico
900:Deaths by firearm in Afghanistan
509:Joint Service Commendation Medal
290:Joint Service Commendation Medal
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41:. Please discuss further on the
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1:
832:. 16 May 2014. Archived from
769:. 15 May 2014. Archived from
736:. 15 May 2014. Archived from
667:. 15 May 2014. Archived from
474:General Stanley A. McChrystal
365:Ranger Indoctrination Program
274:Bronze Star Medal with three
627:Huff, Audrea (16 May 2014).
507:with two oak leaf clusters,
895:United States Army soldiers
511:with one oak leaf cluster,
503:with one oak leaf cluster,
472:Barreras was remembered by
432:U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit
320:Martin Ray "Gunny" Barreras
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925:United States Army Rangers
521:Afghanistan Campaign Medal
405:Operation Enduring Freedom
287:with two Oak Leaf Clusters
245:Operation Enduring Freedom
237:Operation Uphold Democracy
185:United States Marine Corps
505:Meritorious Service Medal
292:with one Oak Leaf Cluster
285:Meritorious Service Medal
282:with one Oak Leaf Cluster
82:
537:Master Parachutist Badge
529:Expert Infantryman Badge
525:Combat Infantryman Badge
445:, which was assigned to
295:Combat Infantryman Badge
559:Senior Enlisted Advisor
541:Military Freefall Badge
479:His awards include the
413:Operation Iraqi Freedom
241:Operation Iraqi Freedom
556:Colombian Armed Forces
403:, and extensively for
367:(RIP) to serve in the
327:Command Sergeant Major
208:Command Sergeant Major
859:Bio at Military Times
443:5th Infantry Regiment
351:Sunnyside High School
341:Barreras was born in
337:Early life and career
223:5th Infantry Regiment
191:Years of service
133:South Lawn Cemetery,
39:neutral point of view
836:on 29 September 2020
513:Iraqi Campaign Medal
389:Operation Just Cause
369:75th Ranger Regiment
343:Tularosa, New Mexico
233:Operation Just Cause
218:75th Ranger Regiment
105:Tularosa, New Mexico
577:President Musharraf
438:for the battalion.
671:on 6 December 2017
664:Arizona Daily Star
539:with bronze star,
173:United States Army
77:Martin R. Barreras
806:on 27 August 2022
639:on 27 August 2022
633:Stars and Stripes
523:with four stars,
497:oak leaf clusters
485:Bronze Star Medal
451:Fort Bliss, Texas
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276:Oak Leaf Clusters
267:Bronze Star Medal
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34:with its subject.
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802:. Archived from
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601:Jicarilla Apache
545:Pathfinder Badge
305:Melinda Barreras
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481:Legion of Merit
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853:External links
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773:on 17 May 2014
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710:on 17 May 2022
703:Military Times
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119:(aged 49)
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331:Jessica Lynch
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51:November 2022
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838:. Retrieved
834:the original
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808:. Retrieved
804:the original
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775:. Retrieved
771:the original
742:. Retrieved
738:the original
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712:. Retrieved
708:the original
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673:. Retrieved
669:the original
662:
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641:. Retrieved
637:the original
622:
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572:Bill McRaven
568:
549:
501:Purple Heart
478:
471:
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358:Marine Corps
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280:Purple Heart
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229:Battles/wars
117:(2014-05-13)
115:May 13, 2014
57:
48:
29:
890:2014 deaths
885:1964 births
603:heritage."
515:with three
495:with three
493:Bronze Star
409:Afghanistan
385:Langley, VA
879:Categories
614:References
608:Jan Brewer
589:Great Dane
533:Ranger Tab
489:"V" device
271:"V" device
142:Allegiance
98:1964-10-07
810:27 August
714:27 August
606:Governor
597:Mescalero
333:in 2003.
302:Spouse(s)
194:1983-2014
43:talk page
870:Archived
862:Archived
734:Fox News
575:up like
310:Children
221:2nd Bn,
162:Service/
830:KOLD-TV
767:KVIA-TV
593:Harleys
552:WHINSEC
461:in the
324:US Army
251:†
840:16 May
777:16 May
744:16 May
675:16 May
643:16 May
543:, and
393:Panama
259:Awards
247:
182:
164:branch
152:
129:Buried
799:DVIDS
517:stars
487:with
401:Haiti
269:with
842:2014
812:2022
779:2014
746:2014
716:2022
677:2014
645:2014
599:and
587:and
417:Iraq
411:and
214:Unit
199:Rank
112:Died
107:, US
92:Born
449:in
415:in
407:in
399:in
391:in
383:in
381:CIA
371:'s
881::
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796:.
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754:^
732:.
700:.
685:^
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
