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'I got you sarge' — They died fighting for their country, now Monterey County to honor them

November 6, 2019

In the nighttime hours of Jan. 20, 2014, insurgents used a car bomb to break through the wall at a Kandahar, Afghanistan, outpost where Salinas native and U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Edward Balli, 42, was stationed.

Six insurgents rushed in and opened fire with AK-47 rifles. Balli and a sergeant returned fire while civilians and others rushed for shelter.

Balli, who was going to retire after this deployment, did not survive. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his heroism — one of many commendations he'd received over his career.

More than three years before, on Oct. 8, 2011, U.S. Army Ranger and Specialist Ricardo Cerros, Jr., 24, of Salinas, died in a nighttime raid in the Logar Province of Afghanistan.

His sergeant had gone into a house with insurgents inside but several had been shielded from a grenade's explosion by a wall. As he entered, they opened fire, hitting him in the arm, leg and head, said Ricardo Cerros Sr.

His son and a medic rushed in as another soldier threw a grenade at the insurgents. Cerros Jr. stayed with the medic to protect the sergeant but was hit and killed by the shrapnel.

"I met the platoon sergeant. He lost five rangers that deployment," Cerros Sr. said. "... The last thing he remembers (my son) saying is 'I got you sarge. I got you sergeant."

The last thing Cerros Sr. said he had told his son before that deployment: "Don't be a hero."

Cerros Sr. and his wife were planning to spend Nov. 2 mourning their son's death — a somber tradition for his birthday.

This week the Cerros and Tony Virrueta, Balli's uncle, will join three other Gold Star families from Greenfield, Salinas and Marina to honor five servicemen killed in action by unveiling signs dedicating stretches of highways to them.

Those being memorialized are:

  • Balli.
  • Cerros Jr.
  • U.S. Army Sgt. Javier Sanchez Jr., 28, of Greenfield.
  • U.S. Army Private First Class Conrado D. Javier, 19, of Marina.
  • U.S. Army Specialist Vilmar Galarza Hernandez, 21, of Salinas.

The memorials have been three years in the making, including a months-long fundraising drive to pay $20,000 for the signs and installation, Virrueta said.

"We did it all together," said Virrueta, referring to the Veterans Day Parade Committee, which Cerros Sr. also serves on.

For Cerros Sr., first hearing about the project left him "excited," he said.

"Someone gives their life for their country, (there should be) some kin of memorial in their honor," he said.

The idea arose from a relative of U.S. Sgt. Javier Sanchez, 28, of Greenfield, who died June 23, 2013, in Sar Rowzah, Afghanistan. He is also being honored with a sign and dedication, Virrueta said.

They started off with the county board of supervisors, where member Luis Alejo was an early supporter, Virrueta said.

He said they faced hurdles at the state level but eventually were authorized to place the signs.

Then, the fundraising began — John D'Arriga, president, CEO and chairman of the board of D'Arrigo Brothers Company of California, contributed and was left awestruck after meeting the families and hearing their stories, he said.

"I wanted to participate and honor them, make sure the Gold Star families know we're not going to forget," he said.

Virrueta praised the parade committee and volunteers in addition to sponsors like the D'Arriga family for making it happen.

"It was something the first time around (when we) got denied, we could've been like, 'We got denied. Oh well,'" Virrueta said. "Now I'm glad we didn't quit."

They will unveil the signs at a ceremony at the National Steinbeck Center Friday, Virrueta said.

Four days later, on Monday, Salinas will honor veterans with its parade in which WWII veteran and U.S. Army Medic David G. Perez will serve as grand marshal and Brig. Gen. Windsor Buzza, commander of the 91st Training Division at Fort Hunter-Liggett, will provide the keynote address.

Rep. Jimmy Panetta will swear in junior service members.

Last year, the parade had more than 130 participants, Virrueta said.

"As of Friday (Oct. 25), we are trending to have more," Virrueta said. "It just gets bigger every year."

The Veterans Day Parade Committee is still seeking 30 adult volunteers to assist with the event. For information on how to volunteer, contact Jose Alfaro at 831-809-5720.

If you go... (Sign dedication)

What: Ceremonial dedication of signs and highways to five Monterey County servicemen killed in action.

Who: Open to the public

When: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Where: National Steinbeck Center, 1 Main St. in Salinas.

If you go... (Parade)

What: Veterans Day Parade

Who: Open to the public

When: Monday. Staging starts at 10:30 a.m.; Opening ceremony at 1:15 p.m.; Parade starts at 2 p.m.

Where: Staging is and opening ceremony are at Salinas High School; Parade will go up S. Main Street into Oldtown, ending at the National Steinbeck Center, 1 Main St.

For more info: https://www.salinasveteransparade.org/join-the-parade

Issues:Veterans