TEXAS — Before Pvt. Isabella Gonzales was sent to Jordan to help fight the war in Iran, she spent 10 weeks in basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
“She always made me laugh with her, with her stuff, and she always laugh at my jokes,” said Elizabeth Medina.
That’s where she met Gonzales.
“And she was very humble, very selfless with me. She made me not feel alone at boot camp,” she said.
They graduated basic training last year in December.
Medina joined the Texas National Guard and Gonzales joined the Army.
“She used to be my battle buddy all the time, and seeing her just die, I was in disbelief,” said Medina.
The 19-year-old was at an air base in Jordan when an Iranian missile struck them. Others from basic training were shocked after learning about Gonzales’ death.
“She’d always say like…’Okay, girl, like you got that.’ She was always like, hyping everybody else up. She was just such a nice lady. I can’t — it’s just so hard to believe that that happened,” said Dominque Douglas on the phone.
City of Carrollton officials and residents honored Gonzales during a recent City Council meeting on Tuesday.
She grew up in Carrollton, went to Hebron High School and enlisted in the Army after she graduated last year.
Medina said Gonzales is more than just fallen soldier, she was a friend.
“She was more than just a casualty in this war. She was more than just another number. More than just another fallen soldier for me. I remember her and for many others, I bet remember her as someone who was again, very humble, very selfless, full of energy, full of light,” said Medina.
City of Carrollton officials plan on honoring Gonzales by having a community vigil at a local church this weekend sometime after her funeral.