CPT Jason L. Gonzalez was born on June 11, 1976. A graduate of Central Catholic High School, Jason always maintained a high sense of discipline. After leaving the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1998 with a degree in environmental engineering and a commission in Aviation, Jason headed to Fort Rucker; AL, where he learned to fly the AH-64A Apache attack helicopter. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 229th Aviation Regiment at Fort Bragg, N.C. He had served an eight-month deployment in Bosnia-Herzegovina, a two-week stint in Afghanistan and had just returned from a year in Korea.

He arrived at Fort Hood in March 2005 and on May 19th took command of the Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, known as the 'Fighting Sixth', part of the 4th Infantry Division. Jason was preparing his Troop to go to Iraq in January.

He is survived by his parents, wife, and two children.

Jason loved what he did - was devoted to his family and his job and was doing what he loved in the Army. He succeeded more than he ever dared to dream.

For every CPT Jason Gonzalez bracelet sold, $10 will be donated to the Central Catholic High School Class of 1994 Endowed Scholarship Fund in his memory.