Bakersfield-born soldier escorts his brother's body home from Iraq
| Thursday, Jun 25 2009 06:31 PM
Last Updated Thursday, Jun 25 2009 06:52 PM
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Visitation services will be held Friday, June 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 428 E. Kern St., Avenal.
The funeral service will be held Saturday at Hillcrest Memorial Chapel in Bakersfield. Soto will be buried in Hillcrest Park, where is mother and grandfather were buried.
Images:
family handout photograph - Josh with his brother, sister-in-law, Shane and Joanna Soto and Josh's nephews, Santiago and Alexzander.
Henry A. Barrios / The Californian Military honor guard wait for the body of Sgt. Josh Soto who was killed in Iraq.
Henry A. Barrios / The Californian "The world has lost a great person," said Adam Jimenez of his friend Army Sgt. Josh Soto who was killed by a roadside bomb while serving in Iraq. Sgt. Soto's body was brought back to Bakersfield for burial accompanied by his older brother Shane who is in the Air Force. Family members and friends gathered at Epic Jet Center at Meadows Field to honor and morn over Sgt. Soto. "He1s going to be missed, but I'm looking Forward to reuniting with him." Jimenez said.
Henry A. Barrios / The Californian Bakersfield Police Officers and CHP officers escort the hearse carrying the body of Sgt. Josh Soto from Meadows field in Bakersfield. Sgt. Soto was killed by a roadside bomb while serving in Iraq. He will be buried Saturday at Hillcrest Memorial Park at the Hill of Valor at 10 A.M
Josh and Shane Soto were just kids when their mother and grandfather were killed in a car accident. All they had was each other.
Shane, two years older, helped raise his little brother, trying to be a good role model.
Both of them joined the military. They looked after one another's families.
"Basically it was just those two trying to look out for each other," said Shane's wife, Joanna.
Shane looked after his brother one last time Thursday, accompanying his body home to Bakersfield from Iraq.
Army Sgt. Josh Soto, 25, was killed in action in Iraq June 16 when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle. It was his third tour of duty.
Family and friends gathered Thursday at Meadows Field Airport in Bakersfield, waiting for him to come home.
Friends and family describe Army Sgt. Josh Soto as silly and goofy.
The Bakersfield native was also an athlete who had determination, motivation and a lot of heart.
"He wasn't just another soldier," Shane said. "He was one of the best -- he was the best at what he did."
Josh is survived by his wife, Thelma, and 9-month-old son Jayden and extended family.
Soto grew up mostly in Bakersfield and attended Centennial High School for one year before moving to Avenal, in Kings County. Immediately following graduation from Avenal High School in 2002, Soto enlisted in the Army.
His brother said the military came natural to him.
"The military helped Josh find himself," his brother said. "He liked being with his brothers and doing the job. He just wanted to make sure all of his soldiers got back safe."
Soto received a purple heart on his first tour of duty after being shot in the leg. He received a purple heart and bronze star for his third and final deployment.
Shane said the brothers had an unwritten promise to each other -- to be their "brother's keeper." Josh moved in with sister-in-law, Joanna, and nephews in El Paso while Shane was deployed.
Joanna Soto said her brother-in-law was her "bodyguard" while her husband was deployed. Shane wanted to make sure his family was safe. Josh helped with her sons, now 5 and 3. If she went out, Josh went with her.
She said said Josh was built for structure, and the Army gave him that. His brothers in infantry gave him a feel of family and everyone says he loved his job. He had a break in service after his first deployment, but realized civilian life wasn't for him.
She said he was a "kid at heart." Soto was close to his nephews and developed a tight bond with the oldest, Santiago. At graduation from pre-K, Santiago said he wanted to be in the Army, just like his "tio."
"My kids were so close to him," Joanna Soto said.
"My five year old keeps saying, 'No, he's not gone mommy. He's not gone.' It's so hard. It's like I know he's gone but it hasn't really hit me."
Family members say he loved playing with kids. His brother says his son Jayden was his "happiness" and "joy."
"To Josh, that was his greatest achievement," he said.
