Spc. Ricardo Cerros Jr., 24, was killed by enemy forces during a heavy firefight while conducting combat operations in Logar Province, Afghanistan. He was mortally wounded as he fought against enemy insurgents barricaded in a compound.

Cerros was a Ranger rifleman assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. He was on his first deployment to Afghanistan in support of the War on Terror.

Cerros was born Nov. 2, 1986 in Fort Ord, Calif. After graduating from Everett Alarez High School and the University of California, Irvine, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in July 2010 in Los Angeles, Calif.

Cerros completed One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, Ga., as an infantryman. After graduating from the Basic Airborne Course, he was assigned to the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program at Fort Benning.

Following graduation from Ranger Assessment and Selection Program, Cerros was assigned to Company B, 2nd Bn., 75th Ranger Regiment in March 2011, where he served as a Ranger rifleman.

His military education includes the Basic Airborne Course and Ranger Assessment and Selection Program.

His awards and decorations include the Parachutist Badge and the U.S. Army Expert Rifle Marksmanship Qualification Badge.

Cerros has also been awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Army Service Ribbon.

He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal. Additional posthumous awards are pending.

Cerros is survived by his father Ricardo Cerros Sr. and stepmother Deborah A. Cerros of Salinas, Calif. and his mother Maqueirte D. Cuevas of Gary, Ind. He is also survived by his brothers Nicholas and Marko Cerros, and sister Theresa Cerros, all of Salinas, Calif.

As a Ranger, Cerros selflessly lived his life for others and distinguished himself as a member of the Army’s premier direct action raid force. Cerros fought valiantly as he served his fellow Rangers and our great Nation.

SFC Kristoffer B. Domeij, 29, was killed during combat operations in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan when the assault force triggered an improvised explosive device. Domeij was a Ranger Joint Terminal Attack Controller assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Co., 2nd Bn., 75th Ranger Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. He was on his 14th combat deployment to Afghanistan in support of the War on Terror.

He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Joint Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal with three loops, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, Iraq Campaign Medal with three campaign stars, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral three, Army Service Ribbon, and the Overseas Ribbon with numeral four. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, and the Meritorious Service Medal.

As a Ranger, Domeij selflessly lived his life for others and distinguished himself as a member of the Army’s premier direct-action raid force and fought valiantly as he served his fellow Rangers and our great Nation.

He is survived by his wife, Sarah, and daughters Mikajsa and Aaliyah of Lacey, Wash.; his mother Scoti Domeij of Colorado Springs, Colo., and his brother Kyle Domeij of San Diego, Calif.

In June 2019, during the 75^th Anniversary of D-Day, Domeij’s mother Scoti did a tandem jump into Normandy with several of Kristoffer’s Ranger brothers as a tribute to him.

Army Ranger Lead The Way Fund honored his family at our annual Gold Star Memorial Event by presenting a hand painted portrait of Kristoffer commissioned by the American Fallen Soldier’s Project.  

Pvt. 1st Class Christopher Alexander Horns, 20, was killed during combat operations in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan when the assault force triggered an improvised explosive device.

Horns was a Ranger automatic rifleman assigned to Co. C, 2nd Bn., 75th Ranger Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. He was on his first deployment to Afghanistan in support of the War on Terror.

Horns was born Nov. 10, 1990 in Sumter, S.C. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in July, 2010 from his hometown of Colorado Springs, Colo.

Horns completed One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, Ga., as an infantryman. After graduating from the Basic Airborne Course, he was assigned to the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program also at Fort Benning. Following graduation from Ranger Assessment and Selection Program, Horns was assigned to Co. C, where he served as an assistant machine gunner and automatic rifleman.

His military education includes the Basic Airborne Course and the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program.

His awards and decorations include the Parachutist Badge and the U.S. Army Expert Rifle Marksmanship Qualification Badge. He has also been awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Army Service Ribbon. Horns will be posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal for Combat Service, the Army Commendation Medal for Peacetime Service, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the Combat Infantry Badge.

He is survived by his parents Larry and Tamara Horns, and his sister Tiffany of Colorado Springs, Colo.

As a Ranger, Horns selflessly lived his life for others and distinguished himself as a member of the Army’s premier direct action raid force and fought valiantly as he served his fellow Rangers and our great Nation.

Sgt. Tyler Nicholas Holtz, 22, was killed by enemy forces during a heavy firefight while conducting combat operations in Wardak Province, Afghanistan. He was leading an assault against an enemy position when he was mortally wounded by small arms fire.

Holtz was a team leader assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Joint Base Lewis McChord, Wash. He was on his fourth deployment to Afghanistan in support of the War on Terror.

Holtz was born Oct. 1, 1988 in Orange City, Calif. After graduating from Mater Dei High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in October 2007 from San Diego, Calif. Holtz completed One Station Unit Training at Fort Benning, Ga., as an infantryman. After graduating from the Basic Airborne Course there, he was assigned to the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program also at Fort Benning.

Holtz graduated from the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program and was then assigned to Company B, 2nd Bn., 75th Ranger Regiment in July 2008, where he served as a rifleman and a Ranger team leader.

His military education includes the Basic Airborne Course, Ranger Assessment and Selection Program, U.S. Army Ranger Course, and U.S. Army Jumpmaster Course.
His awards and decorations include the Ranger Tab, the Expert Infantryman’s Badge, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Parachutist Badge, and the U.S. Army Expert Rifle Marksmanship Qualification Badge.

Holtz has also been awarded the Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and the Overseas Service Ribbon.

He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Purple Heart, and Joint Service Achievement Medal.

Holtz is survived by his father Andrew Holtz of Capistrano Beach, Calif., his mother Karen Holtz, and his three brothers Luke, Hayden, and Michael all of Dana Point, Calif.

As a Ranger, Holtz selflessly lived his life for others and distinguished himself as a member of the Army’s premier direct action raid force and fought valiantly as he served his fellow Rangers and our great Nation.