Stories of Honor: Veteran, who served others in Iraq, now does so in B-N

Jun. 30--NORMAL -- For five months in 2003, Brandon Cruz's job was to put other people's needs ahead of his own, putting his life at risk.

He served in the U.S. Marine Corps in Iraq as part of Operation Enduring Freedom following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

"My country called me to serve and I wear that as a badge of honor," the 38-year-old Normal man said.

Cruz discussed his service earlier this month at American Legion Carl S. Martin Post 635 in Normal, where he is sergeant-at-arms. Beside him were his children Layla, 16, and Damon, 14. His wife, Adelita, was at State Farm, where she is an underwriting supervisor.

Cruz was raised by a single mother in Colorado and joined the Marines on July 12, 1999, after graduating from high school. After boot camp, combat training and artillery school, he reported to his artillery unit in January 2000.

In March 2003, his unit was activated for Operation Enduring Freedom and sent to Iraq.

The unit had four jobs: mortuary affairs, convoy security, firefighting and humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people. Cruz did all but firefighting.

"The mission of mortuary affairs was to search for, process and transport our fallen brothers and sisters," Cruz said. That included identifying the person and preparing their remains to be sent home.

"I recovered them so they would be able to return to their families," Cruz said. "Nothing prepares you for seeing someone in some of the states you experience them in. I treated it was a job that needed to be done because someone was counting on me."

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Convoy security meant escorting U.S. military and Iraqi government officials. Cruz and his unit stripped Humvees of their tops and doors to make the vehicles lighter and quicker and to show "whomever was watching us that (there were Marines aboard and) it would be a bad day to attack us," he said.

Humanitarian assistance involved providing food and water to the Iraqi people and repairing a school building.

"Ninety-eight percent of the time, the people were grateful we were there and providing assistance," he said. "Our intent was good and I take pride in that."

Layla said "I do like how he went over to help the people in Iraq."

Damon said "I'm glad he and the other Marines put other people ahead of themselves."

After five months, "My unit came back 100 percent in tact," he said. Corporal Cruz's Marine service time ended in March 2005.

Cruz worked for State Farm as a homeowners' insurance claims' adjuster for 11 years as he worked to attain his bachelor's degree in business management from Colorado State University. He and his family relocated to Normal in 2015 when his wife was prompted by State Farm.

Cruz works for the Normal Police Department as a police service representative, assisting officers and working the front desk. Two years ago, he joined the Bloomington-Normal American Legion Honor Guard, which conducts military rites at veterans' funerals and color guard presentations at school and community events.

"I have an obligation to be of service to others," he said. "I want to be a part of the community...to set a good example for my kids and people around me. We need to focus on some of that more in our country, taking care of each other and being of service."

Contact Paul Swiech at (309) 820-3275. Follow him on Twitter: @pg_swiech

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