Fil-Am soldier killed in Afghanistan leaves fiancée in grief

A Filipino-American soldier killed in action in Afghanistan on Nov. 10 would have wed his childhood sweetheart in January next year.

Specialist (Spc.) Lester G. Roque, 23, of Torrance, California was hit by direct fire from rebel forces while on patrol with the International Security Assistance Force of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Leigh Rivera, Lester’s 24-year-old fiancée, told The STAR they would have been wed in civil rites, followed by a reception at the clubhouse of their village in Parañaque.

“I don’t know how to start over from this, how to begin,” she said.

Leigh, a nursing graduate reviewing for the US nursing licensure examinations, said she was filled with foreboding when Lester failed to call her up after a three-day communication shutdown at their camp in eastern Afghanistan.

It was learned that a communication shutdown is declared in US camps when a soldier is wounded or killed to enable the US Army to break the news to the family of slain or wounded soldiers.

Leigh said Lester later called up to tell her that he was about to join a patrol and promised to call her when they came back.

“Just like always, I told him to be very careful,” she said.

“I told him that I love him. To come back safely.”

Leigh said the chilling confirmation of her worst fears came late Sunday when Lester’s mother Lisa called from the US to break the news that he was gone.

“She called me to say that he was no longer with us,” she said.

“The news was such a blow to me. Until now, it seems I can’t believe that I will never be able to get a call from him again, talk to him again.”

She is thinking of flying to California to attend Lester’s funeral, Leigh said.

The US military is reportedly in the process of flying Lester’s remains to California.

Leigh and Lester have been friends since high school in the Philippines.

They met at Stella Maris College in Cubao, Quezon City, when Lester went to watch a South Border concert.

Lester’s cousin Josephine “Iris” Dizon introduced the two, who have been friends since then.

Five years ago, the Roque family migrated to the US, settling in Torrance, southern California.

Lester tried to take up architecture before enlisting in the US Army.

Love between Leigh and Lester bloomed in the course of a long-distance friendship, mostly through expensive cellular phone calls and the Internet.

Last January, the two realized theirs was more than friendship, and they declared love for each other.

During a two-week leave in the Philippines, Lester discussed wedding plans with Leigh.

Lester was killed, along with four other US soldiers: 1st Lt. Matthew C. Ferrara, 24; Sgt. Jeffry S. Mersman, 23; Spc. Sean K.A. Langevin, 23; and Pfc. Joseph M. Lancour, 21, according to the US Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs.

Roque, who was born and raised in Marikina, was the elder of two sons of architect Antonio Roque and his wife Lisa. – Rainier Allan Ronda