San Marcos — A local resident who graduated from San Marcos Baptist Academy and the United States Military Academy at West Point has been killed in the line of duty.
Army Captain Paul W. Peña, 27, died in Afghanistan, Madeline De Long, director of Alumni Relations, said in an e-mail distributed to the academy community.
He was reportedly on patrol when he stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED).
De Long said Peña attended the academy for six years and participated “in many activities and graduated with highest honors.” She said he graduated from West Point in 2004 and then enlisted in the U.S. Army.
“Paul always wore a smile. He was indeed the most humble person I ever met,” she wrote. From tributes on Peña’s Facebook page, De Long said it was evident he impacted many lives and was “highly respected by his military brothers and sisters.”
Academy spokes woman Shelley Henry said after his graduation, Peña kept in contact with the academy over the years. She said the Afghanistan deployment was Peña’s second since enlisting in the military.
Peña’s mother, Cecilia Peña, is a teacher in Kyle.
No other details were immediately available.
Local News
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Capt. Paul W. Peña
San Marcos soldier killed in Afghanistan
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