PFC Kristian Menchaca honored by city, job corps

Proclamation presented at Gary Job Corps

Captain Tyler Reid, U.S. Army Recruiting San Marcos Commander, presents Gary Job Corps Center Director Patty Lankford with a proclamation from State Rep. John Cyrier and the city of San Marcos honoring the sacrifice given by PFC Kristian Menchaca. June 16 marked the 12th anniversary of the death of Menchaca, assigned to the 1st Battalion, 602nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, who was killed following an insurgent attack on the U.S. Army checkpoint south of Baghdad, Iraq. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Prisoner of War Medals. Menchaca attended the Gary Job Corps Center from September 2004 to February 2005, graduating from the Security Officer program. Pictured are Reid, Lankford, CRC member Ruben Becerra, Corrections/Security instructors Scott Oshan, Preston Smith, Troy Oldbury, Eugene Edokpa and Evelyn Hernandez, and cadets from Corrections/Security. Gary Job Corps photo

City honors Gary Job Corps graduate Kristian Menchaca

San Marcos Mayor John Thomaides presented a proclamation to Gary Job Corps Center Director Patty Lankford declaring “PFC Kristian Mencahca Day.” Menchaca was a Gary Job Corps Security/Corrections graduate who joined the U.S. Army and was killed in combat in Iraq 12 years ago. Speaking on the valor of his sacrifice were Lankford, Corrections instructor Troy Oldbury and Captain Tyler Reid, commander U.S. Army Recruiting Company San Marcos. Pictured are Reid, Staff Sergeant Robert B. Stallings, Ruben Becerra, Monica Ybarra, Constable David Peterson, Lankford, Craig Marks, Irma Pardo, Randolph Goodman, Oldbury, Capt. Preston Smith, Capt. Scott Oshan, Capt. Eugene Edokpa, Gary Job Corps students Kevin Viera, Joseph Baily, Marcayla Poland, Caleb Burrell, Jessinea Johnson, Marcos Skowranski and Hector Romero, Thomaides and City Council member Scott Gregson. Gary Job Corps photo