All of us at DWT & Sand Tires Unlimited give a huge THANKS to all of you whom have served in the United States Armed Forces for our Freedom! The greatest nation on earth has many freedoms, just one of which is the freedom to ride our many types of off road terrain. Whether for sport or leisure, we believe it is one of the greatest outdoor activities one can experience. We wish that all of the brave Men and Women of our nation’s great armed forces could safely make it back here and enjoy those freedoms once again. After bravely giving their utmost for our many freedoms, some may never return home. We urge everyone to Thank a veteran whenever they get the chance. As Americans we owe it all to the brave men and women who keep us in our liberty. A simple thank you or maybe picking up their tab at a restaurant goes a long way. Any method of gratitude is the least we can do for those who are giving or have given so much.
Together with STU we’ve put together a small tribute to the memory of a brave soldier, Army Sgt. Clinton K. Ruiz of Murrieta, CA. He was assigned to Alpha Company, 9th Military Information Support battalion (Airborne), 8th Military Information Support Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C. Serving during Operation Enduring Freedom, Clinton made the ultimate sacrifice for his country on October 25, 2012 when his unit was attacked and took gun fire from a Taliban insurgent posing as an Afghan National Police Officer in Khas Uruzgan in Oruzgan Province. Clinton was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Afghan Campaign Medal (Campaign Star), Global War on Terrorism Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Parachutist Badge.
TIRE READS: DEDICATED TO THE HEROISM AND MEMORY OF A TRUE AMERICAN WARRIOR, SGT. CLINTON K. RUIZ, 3/14/1990 – 10/25/2012, KIA AFGHANISTAN, OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM
Among many other sports, Clinton enjoyed riding his quad, as well as going riding out in Glamis and Ocotillo Wells with his family. A graduate of Murrieta Valley High School in 2008 and enlisted in the Army in May 2009. In the Army, he attended psychological operations training and Korean language school, graduating in August 2010. Ruiz deployed to Afghanistan in September of 2012.
“He was a great guy…Never a trouble maker,” said Tim Baker, the business partner of Ruiz’s father. He recalled how his own son and Ruiz would laugh together over the silliest things.
“He was a normal young man,” he said, noting Ruiz’s “high spirit.
Ruiz’s parents, Carla Trease and John Ruiz, and his brother Parker Ruiz said in a written statement: “Our family mourns the loss of our precious young man who exhibited remarkable character and compassion as a son, brother, grandson, husband, father and soldier. Our son, Sgt. Clinton K. Ruiz, will forever be remembered for the ultimate sacrifice he made for his country. “May God bless and keep you son,”.
Clint is survived by his wife Kira, son Caleb, mother Carla Trease, father John “Tony” Ruiz and brother Parker Ruiz.
The Clinton K. Ruiz Memorial Scholarship is in place to help students who, while not at the tops of their classes, have demonstrated a resilience to persevere and achieve in spite of their shortcomings or prior hardships. There are a large number of scholarship opportunities for students that have significant academic, sports or other talent/achievement. The CKR memorial seeks to find those students who are otherwise overlooked, however, are still deserving of assistance.
View the Clinton K. Ruiz Memorial Website HERE
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
-John 15:13