SGT. LORENZO PONCE RUIZ DIED ON WEDNESDAY IN BALAD, IRAQ WHEN HIS MILITARY VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH A CIVILIAN CAR AND OVERTURNED.

BEFORE SGT. LORENZO PONCE RUIZ JOINED THE ARMY HE SPENT HIS DAYS AT YSLETA HIGH SCHOOL. ON FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE YSELTA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAME STUDENTS AND INDIAN FANS STOOD FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR LORENZO.

AND WHILE MOST OF THE CURRENT STUDENTS DID NOT KNOW LORENZO, ONE FACULTY MEMBER AT YSELTA SAYS SHE REMEMBERS BEING IN HIGH SCHOOL WITH HIM.

"He was an outgoing guy, he was really friendly, you know I really didn't party with him or anything, but he was really nice to everybody." SAID Lizbeth Rodriguez, Yesleta High School

SGT. LORENZO PONCE RUIZ WAS APART OF THE 24TH TRANSPORTATION COMPANY, 541ST MAINTENANCE BATTALION IN FORT RILEY, KANSAS.