Photo By Pfc. John Ahn | Staff Sgt. Hiram Barbosa, a native of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, loads a .50-caliber heavy...... read more read more
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By Pfc. John Ahn
2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Being a Soldier means being a master at many things and having the ability to adapt to any environment. For one Soldier from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment "Wolfhounds," 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team "Warrior," 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, adapting to his environment has been a way of life.
Such is the case for Staff Sgt. Hiram Barbosa, a native of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, who is a Stryker armored vehicle commander and is responsible for the vehicle crews for the Wolfhound commander's Personal Security Detail.
Barbosa, along with his seven brothers and sisters grew up very poor in Puerto Rico. Their mother was single and worked at a local bar. His life changed dramatically when his mother died when he was 16. It was now time for him to adapt to his new environment as he moved to Berkeley Heights, N.J., to live with his godparents.
Barbosa said his godparents had an immense impact on how he lives his life today. He is very focused on his health and fitness, which is something he learned from them. His godfather is a professional body builder and a police officer, and his godmother is an aerobics and fitness instructor.
Their active lifestyles were such an influence that he recently competed in a body building contest and earned third place at Camp Taji, which is located northwest of Baghdad, May 25.
The balance he keeps in fitness, along with his daily mission tempo, is nothing short of amazing. He said speaking to his godfather helps him keep that balance. In fact, he calls him as often as he can.
"He's a great influence in my life," said Barbosa, adding that his godfather constantly want to help him improve himself in every aspect of his life.
"He was a happy kid," said Tony Martinez, Barbosa's godfather. "He was the type of kid, you tell him what to do, and he did it. He was never afraid, always positive, and he never gave up."
His dedication for fitness carries over to his Soldiers. His driver, Spc. Daniel Van Houten, a native of Pasadena, Texas, recently began working out with Barbosa and said he has seen vast improvements in both his physique and endurance.
"He pushes me," said Van Houten, regarding Barbosa's influence to improve his physical fitness. "He trains me properly, and he motivates not only me but the whole section."
Barbosa's dedication to his family is what drove him to the Army life. He enlisted immediately after graduating from Jose de Diego High School in New Jersey.
He said he chose to enlist in the Army as an infantry man to fulfill his yearning to "blow things up, shoot weapons and advance quickly" in his career field.
"I was a little bit fearful, but he's a tough kid," said Martinez, who said he was initially apprehensive about Barbosa joining the military. "I knew he could handle it."
He is currently serving in his fourth deployment since joining the Army, which includes two tours in Iraq, and a tour in both Afghanistan and Bosnia.
He said he plans to make the Army his career and continues to become more tactically and technically proficient on military tasks, which improves his chances to be promoted through the ranks.
| Date Taken: | 05.25.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 06.18.2008 10:11 |
| Story ID: | 20598 |
| Location: | TAJI, IQ |
| Web Views: | 124 |
| Downloads: | 45 |
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