PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. -- At a retirement ceremony Aug. 18, Master Sgt. John R. Cruz received the Meritorious Service Medal for his 22 years of service to the U.S. Army from Brig. Gen Patrick Burden, Picatinny Arsenal Senior Commander.
Cruz began his Army career immediately after high school, enlisting as a multiple launch rocket system crew member. Later, he became an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technician.
Graduating in the top of his class from the Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal School, Cruz served multiple tours of duty in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
While serving in Afghanistan, Cruz was wounded while attempting to disarm two hand grenades.
With limited EOD personnel available, and after only five days of healing, Cruz voluntarily returned to duty to support sensitive site exploitations. Later, he was part of an operation that involved crawling through dark caves looking for booby traps.
In his two deployments, to Iraq Cruz succeeded in capturing or neutralizing 35 bomb makers and emplacers. On the same deployment, he was able to identify the trends and components of enemy bomb makers, developing a target support package that led to the capture of six insurgents.
In his final deployment to Iraq, he was selected to be part of the first Army unit to be attached to the U.S. State Department providing IED support. He led a mission to recover and clear the remains of two personnel who had been missing in action, with one of the remains belonging to the last missing U.S. service member unaccounted for in Iraq.
"Since his first duty assignment, Master Sgt. Cruz has made a difference in saving the lives of our Soldiers, but his actions prove his dedication to duty, his selfless service and his heroism," Burden said.
"For over 20 years, these have been more than words to Master Sgt. Cruz, they have been the foundation upon which he built his life," the general continued.
"They sustained him when times were tough, they energized him when his spirit was weak, and they remind him of his responsibilities when great praise came his way."
Cruz thanked his family, especially his mother and grandmother, saying, "You are the bedrock of who I am today."
He spoke of their love and compassion, calling it "the same love and compassion I shared with my Soldiers to get through the war's darkest days, and the same love and compassion that enabled me not to lose my faith in myself when faced with the brutality of war."
Cruz has a bachelor of science degree from Excelsior College. He is a graduate of the Basic Leaders Course, Advanced Leaders Course, Joint Military Attaché' School, United Kingdom IED Defeat Course, Basic Airborne Course and Air Assault Course.
His awards include the Bronze Star (2nd Oak Leaf); Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal (1st Oak Leaf), Joint Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (3rd Oak leaf) Army Achievement Medal (1st Silver Oak Leaf) Army Good Conduct Medal (7th Knot); national Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War of Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. His badges include the Combat Action Badge, Master Explosive Ordnance Disposal Badge, Basic Airborne Badge, Air Assault Badge and Chilean Airborne Badge.
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