Master Sergeant Pablo A. Ruiz III

Master Sgt. Pablo A. Ruiz, 37, of Melbourne, Florida, died Sunday, in Bagram, Afghanistan, from a non-combat related incident, the Defense Department announced. Ruiz was assigned to Forward Support Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was posthumously promoted to master sergeant.

Ruiz was on his first deployment to Afghanistan, according to information from 3rd Special Forces Group. Ruiz enlisted in the Army in 2003 as a cook. He served in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg for more than eight years, deploying three times to Iraq.

He was assigned to 3rd Special Forces Group in April as the NCO in charge of the forward dining facility in Afghanistan. Ruiz also was a volunteer with Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, or TAPS. Ruiz was a TAPS Good Grief Mentor since 2013, committed to caring for the children of America’s fallen heroes.

Ruiz, who lost a close friend in combat in 2007, also volunteered for the TAPS Courage Campaign with both the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals.

He leaves behind his wife of nearly 19 years and one daughter.

Ruiz’s awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (second award), Army Commendation Medal (fifth award), Army Achievement Medal (fifth award), the Iraq Campaign Medal with three campaign stars, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Combat Action Badge and Ranger Tab. Ruiz was posthumously awarded his sixth Army Commendation Medal and his third Meritorious Service Medal.