By . Louise Boyle . and Associated Press . Command Sgt. Maj. Martin R. Barreras died on Tuesday in a San Antonio military hospital from wounds sustained during his most recent deployment in Afghanistan . The soldier from Tucson has died from wounds suffered during . an attack in Afghanistan, the Department of Defense announced Thursday. Command Sgt. Maj. Martin R Barreras died on Tuesday in . San Antonio Military Medical Center, officials said. He had suffered . wounds earlier this month when his unit was attacked by enemy forces with small arms fire in Herat Province, . Afghanistan, the Department of Defense said. The 49-year-old was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 5th . Infantry, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division in Fort Bliss, . Texas. He became the top enlisted soldier for the battalion in March 2013. Soldiers from the battalion were deployed to Afghanistan in December. The 1st Armored Division, also known as 'Old Ironsides,' dates . back to before World War II. Barreras was part of the U.S. Special Operations Forces who rescued POW Jessica Lynch in April 1, 2003. Private First Class Lynch was seriously injured and captured when her convoy was ambushed by Iraqi forces. Her subsequent rescue thrust her into the media spotlight and was the first successful rescue of an American prisoner of war since Vietnam and the first ever of a woman. His vast number of awards include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal with V device, Bronze Star with three oak leaf clusters and the Purple Heart with one oak leaf cluster. His colleague, Lt. Col. Edward Brady told The Army Times: 'Command Sgt. Maj. Barreras was my friend and battle buddy. 'I’ve spent more time with him than my wife since I’ve taken command. I believe that I was the luckiest battalion commander in the Army to have him as my command sergeant major.' He added: 'While every soldier in this formation is extremely saddened by his loss, his Bobcats are doing exactly what he would expect of us: continuing on with the mission and taking the fight to the enemy. This man would do absolutely anything and everything to ensure his soldiers came home safely.' In a statement, Representative Ron Barber, (D-Tucson), called Barreras a brave member of the United States Army. U.S. Army soldier and POW Jessica Lynch, 19, a member of the 507th Maintenance Company, arrives on April 3 on a stretcher at the Ramstein US Air Base in Germany after her dramatic rescue in Iraq . Jessica Lynch, seen in this undated photo, was captured in 2003 when her convoy was ambushed in Iraq (left). She was rescued by a U.S. Special Operations unit which included Sgt. May. Barreras . 'Command Sgt. Maj. Barreras's death is a reminder that . although the United States is winding down our combat role in . Afghanistan, we still have men and women who are placing themselves in . harm's way every day,' Barber said. 'I thank each one of them, as well . as their families, for their service and for their sacrifice.' Barreras is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son.
Command Sgt. Maj. Martin R. Barreras died on Tuesday at .
San Antonio Military Medical Center .
He had suffered .
wounds earlier this month when his unit was attacked in Herat Province, .
Afghanistan, the Department of Defense said\ .
He is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son .
By . Louise Boyle . and Associated Press . Command Sgt. Maj. Martin R. Barreras died on Tuesday in a San Antonio military hospital from wounds sustained during his most recent deployment in Afghanistan . The soldier from Tucson has died from wounds suffered during . an attack in Afghanistan, the Department of Defense announced Thursday. Command Sgt. Maj. Martin R Barreras died on Tuesday in . San Antonio Military Medical Center, officials said. He had suffered . wounds earlier this month when his unit was attacked by enemy forces with small arms fire in Herat Province, . Afghanistan, the Department of Defense said. The 49-year-old was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 5th . Infantry, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division in Fort Bliss, . Texas. He became the top enlisted soldier for the battalion in March 2013. Soldiers from the battalion were deployed to Afghanistan in December. The 1st Armored Division, also known as 'Old Ironsides,' dates . back to before World War II. Barreras was part of the U.S. Special Operations Forces who rescued POW Jessica Lynch in April 1, 2003. Private First Class Lynch was seriously injured and captured when her convoy was ambushed by Iraqi forces. Her subsequent rescue thrust her into the media spotlight and was the first successful rescue of an American prisoner of war since Vietnam and the first ever of a woman. His vast number of awards include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal with V device, Bronze Star with three oak leaf clusters and the Purple Heart with one oak leaf cluster. His colleague, Lt. Col. Edward Brady told The Army Times: 'Command Sgt. Maj. Barreras was my friend and battle buddy. 'I’ve spent more time with him than my wife since I’ve taken command. I believe that I was the luckiest battalion commander in the Army to have him as my command sergeant major.' He added: 'While every soldier in this formation is extremely saddened by his loss, his Bobcats are doing exactly what he would expect of us: continuing on with the mission and taking the fight to the enemy. This man would do absolutely anything and everything to ensure his soldiers came home safely.' In a statement, Representative Ron Barber, (D-Tucson), called Barreras a brave member of the United States Army. U.S. Army soldier and POW Jessica Lynch, 19, a member of the 507th Maintenance Company, arrives on April 3 on a stretcher at the Ramstein US Air Base in Germany after her dramatic rescue in Iraq . Jessica Lynch, seen in this undated photo, was captured in 2003 when her convoy was ambushed in Iraq (left). She was rescued by a U.S. Special Operations unit which included Sgt. May. Barreras . 'Command Sgt. Maj. Barreras's death is a reminder that . although the United States is winding down our combat role in . Afghanistan, we still have men and women who are placing themselves in . harm's way every day,' Barber said. 'I thank each one of them, as well . as their families, for their service and for their sacrifice.' Barreras is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son.
Sgt. Maj. Martin R. Barreras died on Tuesday in a Afghanistan, the Department of Defense announced Thursday. Command Sgt. Maj. Martin R Barreras died on Tuesday in . San Antonio Military Medical Center, officials said. He had suffered . wounds earlier this month when his unit was attacked by Province, . Afghanistan, the Department of their sacrifice.' Barreras is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son.