Lizbeth Robles
Encyclopedia
SPC Lizbeth Robles was a female soldier born in Puerto Rico that died in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
. In 1978, her parents moved to Boston, Massachusetts, where she received her primary education. The family returned to Vega Baja, in 1983, where her father was a church pastor and Robles the leader of the church's youth group. She was an accomplished athlete who was well liked by those who knew her. After graduating from high school led the life of a normal fun loving girl of her age and attended the American University of Manatí. After one year at the university, she was unable to pay the tuition and transferred to the Arecibo
campus of the University of Puerto Rico
. There she was able to receive financial aid and complete her degree.
. The events that occurred on and after September 11, 2001, changed her life forever. Robles, like so many others, joined the Armed Forces of the United States
. She joined the U.S. Army
and received her basic training in Fort Leonard Wood
, where she was sent to Fort Hood and assigned to the 46th Chemical Company. Later, she was sent to Fort Bragg, North Carolina
, and was assigned to the 659th Maintenance Co. Robles was sent to South Korea
, where she was assigned to the to 4th Chem Co.at Camp Casey. She also served in Uzbekistan
before being assigned to Fort Carson in Colorado
.
Robles, who enjoyed driving tankers and trucks, was then assigned to the 360th Transportation Company, 68th Corps Support Battalion. There she lived with her husband Stokey Smith. She volunteered to be part of a new group with the 43rd Area Support Group, one that rides in convoys and secures the dangerous roadways so that the Fort Carson's trucks in Iraq can deliver fuel.
She received her deployment orders, but before she left for Iraq Robles went to Puerto Rico where she spent the Thanksgiving
of 2004 with her friends and family. After that last Thanksgiving with her family, she went to Iraq where she reported to her company.
On March 1, 2005, SPC Lizbeth Robles and Sgt. Julio Negron were riding in a Humvee by the town of Bayji, when they had an accident and the vehicle flipped over. They were rushed to the 228th Command Support Hospital in Tikrit
where both of them later died of the injuries sustained from the accident.
Lizbeth Robles' remains arrived in Puerto Rico on March 6, 2005. She was buried with full military honors in the Puerto Rico National Cemetery
located in Bayamon, Puerto Rico
. Her name along with the others who have perished in Afghanistan
and Iraq
, was engraved in "El Monumento de la Recordación" (Monument of Remembrance), dedicated to Puerto Rico's fallen soldiers and situated in front of the Capitol Building in San Juan, Puerto Rico
and unveiled by Puerto Rico Senate President Kenneth McClintock
and PR National Guard Adjutant General Col. David Carrión on Memorial Day
, 2007.
Early years
Robles was born into a close knit working class family in the small town of Vega Baja, Puerto RicoVega Baja, Puerto Rico
Vega Baja is a municipality in north central Puerto Rico located in the northern coast, north of Morovis; east of Manatí; and west of Vega Alta. Vega Baja is spread over 13 wards and Vega Baja Pueblo...
. In 1978, her parents moved to Boston, Massachusetts, where she received her primary education. The family returned to Vega Baja, in 1983, where her father was a church pastor and Robles the leader of the church's youth group. She was an accomplished athlete who was well liked by those who knew her. After graduating from high school led the life of a normal fun loving girl of her age and attended the American University of Manatí. After one year at the university, she was unable to pay the tuition and transferred to the Arecibo
Arecibo, Puerto Rico
Arecibo is a municipality in the northern midwest coast of Puerto Rico and located by the Atlantic Ocean, north of Utuado and Ciales; east of Hatillo; and west of Barceloneta, and Florida. Arecibo is spread over 18 wards and Arecibo Pueblo...
campus of the University of Puerto Rico
University of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
. There she was able to receive financial aid and complete her degree.
Military service
Robles was dissatisfied with the jobs available to her before being hired by Bristol Myers Squibb, in the town of BarcelonetaBarceloneta, Puerto Rico
Barceloneta is a municipality in Puerto Rico and is located in the north region, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of Florida, east of Arecibo and west of Manati. Barceloneta is spread over 3 wards and Barceloneta Pueblo...
. The events that occurred on and after September 11, 2001, changed her life forever. Robles, like so many others, joined the Armed Forces of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. She joined the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and received her basic training in Fort Leonard Wood
Fort Leonard Wood (military base)
Fort Leonard Wood is a United States Army installation located in the Missouri Ozarks. The main gate is located on the southern boundary of St. Robert. The post was created in December 1940 and named in honor of General Leonard Wood, former Chief of Staff, in January 1941...
, where she was sent to Fort Hood and assigned to the 46th Chemical Company. Later, she was sent to Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Fort Bragg is a major United States Army installation, in Cumberland and Hoke counties, North Carolina, U.S., mostly in Fayetteville but also partly in the town of Spring Lake. It was also a census-designated place in the 2010 census and had a population of 39,457. The fort is named for Confederate...
, and was assigned to the 659th Maintenance Co. Robles was sent to South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, where she was assigned to the to 4th Chem Co.at Camp Casey. She also served in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south....
before being assigned to Fort Carson in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
.
Robles, who enjoyed driving tankers and trucks, was then assigned to the 360th Transportation Company, 68th Corps Support Battalion. There she lived with her husband Stokey Smith. She volunteered to be part of a new group with the 43rd Area Support Group, one that rides in convoys and secures the dangerous roadways so that the Fort Carson's trucks in Iraq can deliver fuel.
She received her deployment orders, but before she left for Iraq Robles went to Puerto Rico where she spent the Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...
of 2004 with her friends and family. After that last Thanksgiving with her family, she went to Iraq where she reported to her company.
On March 1, 2005, SPC Lizbeth Robles and Sgt. Julio Negron were riding in a Humvee by the town of Bayji, when they had an accident and the vehicle flipped over. They were rushed to the 228th Command Support Hospital in Tikrit
Tikrit
Tikrit is a town in Iraq, located 140 km northwest of Baghdad on the Tigris river . The town, with an estimated population in 2002 of about 260,000 is the administrative center of the Salah ad Din Governorate.-Ancient times:...
where both of them later died of the injuries sustained from the accident.
Lizbeth Robles' remains arrived in Puerto Rico on March 6, 2005. She was buried with full military honors in the Puerto Rico National Cemetery
Puerto Rico National Cemetery
Puerto Rico National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located in the city of Bayamón, in the commonwealth of Puerto Rico. It encompasses of land, and as of the end of 2005, had 44,722 interments. It is the only National Cemetery in Puerto Rico, and the only one outside of the mainland...
located in Bayamon, Puerto Rico
Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Bayamón is a municipality of Puerto Rico located on the northern coastal valley, north of Aguas Buenas and Comerío; south of Toa Baja and Cataño; west of Guaynabo; and east of Toa Alta and Naranjito. Bayamón is spread over 11 wards and Bayamón Pueblo...
. Her name along with the others who have perished in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, was engraved in "El Monumento de la Recordación" (Monument of Remembrance), dedicated to Puerto Rico's fallen soldiers and situated in front of the Capitol Building in San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
and unveiled by Puerto Rico Senate President Kenneth McClintock
Kenneth McClintock
Kenneth D. McClintock-Hernández is the current Secretary of State of Puerto Rico. Mr. McClintock served as co-chair of Hillary Clinton presidential campaign's National Hispanic Leadership Council in 2008, co-chaired Clinton's successful Puerto Rico primary campaign that year and served as the...
and PR National Guard Adjutant General Col. David Carrión on Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
, 2007.
Awards and decorations
Among SPC Lizbeth Robles' decorations and medals were the following:
Purple HeartPurple HeartThe Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
National Defense Service MedalNational Defense Service MedalThe National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower...
Global War on Terrorism Service MedalGlobal War on Terrorism Service MedalThe Global War on Terrorism Service Medal is a military award of the United States military which was created by Executive Order 13289 of President George W. Bush on March 12, 2003...
Iraq Campaign MedalIraq Campaign MedalThe Iraq Campaign Medal is a military award of the United States armed forces which was created by Executive Order 13363 of President George W. Bush on November 29, 2004. The Iraq Campaign Medal was designed by the U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry....
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- List of Puerto Rican military personnel
- Puerto Rican women in the militaryPuerto Rican women in the militaryOne of the least known roles played by Puerto Rican women has been that of revolutionists and soldiers. This is a brief account of some the Puerto Rican women who have participated in military actions either as members of a political revolutionary movement or the Armed Forces of the United...