U.S. Army Specialist Eleazar Lopez.

Eleazar Lopez, 20 years old, is a 2007 Fillmore High School Graduate and Fillmore native. When I last wrote about Eleazar Lopez in June 2008 he said with enthusiasm, “I graduated with the greatest class ever!” Eleazar also attended Piru Elementary School and Fillmore Middle School. Eleazar was on the FHS Cross Country and Track and Field teams all 4 years at FHS. He also played the trumpet in the band from the 4th grade to his freshman year at FHS.

Eleazar soon after graduation from FHS enlisted in the United States Army on March 31, 2007 and completed his basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Eleazar also told me that he would like to become an Airborne Ranger and have an assignment in Hawaii, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, or Fort Stewart, Georgia. Well he did make it to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, has been promoted to Army Specialist, and is now with the 82nd Airborne. Since June of this year, the 82nd Airborne Division has officially assumed command of of Regional Command-East, from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) during a ceremony at Bagram Airfield on June 3, 2009. As the result of his assignment with the 82nd Airborne Division, Specialist Eleazar Lopez is now stationed in Kandahar, Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne Division as a light wheeled vehicle mechanic, but hopes to go to Airborne Training when he returns from Afghanistan.

The 82nd Airborne Division's Mission is: Within 18 hours of notification, the 82nd Airborne Division strategically deploys, conducts forcible entry parachute assault and secures key objectives for follow-on military operations in support of U.S. national interests. Not an easy mission, but one with men and women serving in that Division the quality of Fillmore's own Eleazar Lopez, I am confident will be accomplished.
Kandahar Province is one of the largest of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan. Kandahar Province is located in southern Afghanistan, between Helmand, Oruzgan and Zabul provinces. Its capital is the city of Kandahar which is located on the Arghandab River. The province has a population of nearly 913,000, with over 300,000 living in its capital city. The main inhabitants of Kandahar province are the Pashtuns.

Specialist Eleazar Lopez has been awarded the Global War on Terrorism Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Army Defense Ribbon.

United States Army Specialist Eleazar Lopez’ parents are Victor and Susan Lopez of Fillmore. His siblings are Victoria Lopez, 22 years old, and Sofia Lopez, 17 years old, both of Fillmore. Specialist Eleazar Lopez is the Grandson of the late (Maternal) Dr. James Francis (a United States Navy veteran of WWII and former fireman) and Thelma Grace Basque and the late (Paternal) Crispin and Maria Guadalupe Lopez Saucedo.

All of us here at home wish Specialist Eleazar Lopez safe travel and service while in Afghanistan. We are proud of his service and we thank him and his family for their sacrifices to maintain our freedoms. Specialist Eleazar Lopez is truly an American Hero.