Genaro Acosta
Specialist, U.S. Army
Operation Iraqi Freedom

Genaro Acosta was born on 19 September 1977 in La Mirada, CA.

According to Genaro's brother, Fernando, he loved the Oakland Raiders and the rivalry between the Los Angeles Lakers (his favorite team) and the San Antonio Spurs. Genaro also loved to fish.

Genaro was married to Roxanne Longoria Acosta and they had a son named Tyler James Acosta-Maxwell. The last time they spoke to each other was on 10 November 2003.

Acosta joined the U.S. Army on 31 October 2000 and, in November 2003, he was serving with the 1st Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, deployed on Operation Iraqi Freedom. On Veteran's Day, 11 November 2003, he was killed when the Bradley vehicle in which he was riding drove over an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) north of Baghdad, Iraq. He had 4 months remaining on his tour.

After Genaro's death, his brother, Fernando, made this comment: "It's very important for President Bush to not pull out. We need to ensure we finish what we started so my brother's death was not in vain."

Death and Burial

Specialist Genaro Costa died on 11 November 2003, north of Baghdad, Iraq. He is buried at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Bexar County, TX, in Section 25, Site 1695.

He is survived by his wife, Roxanne; his son, Tyler; his father, Fernando Acosta Sr.; brother, Fernando Jr.; sister-in-law, Tricia; nephew, Justice; grandmother, Prahedes Hernandez; half-sister, Rene 5/8 Mercado; father-in-law, John Longoria Sr.; mother-in-law, Hope Longoria and Frances Longoria as well as numerous family and friends in Texas, California and Mexico.