Army Reserve 1st Lt. Ruben Soliz Jr. greets West running back Lache Seastrunk of Temple, at midfield during pre-game activities prior to the start of the U.S. Army-sponsored All- American Bowl football game in the Alamodome in San Antonio. Soliz was one of more than 90 soldier-heroes from throughout the Army, Army Reserve, and National Guard honored for their efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq. (Photo by Daren Reehl) SAN ANTONIO - Ruben Soliz Jr. never joined the Army with thoughts of being labeled a hero. As a quartermaster officer and an Army Reserve first lieutenant, he just wanted to do the best job he knew how.

But Soliz, son of Ruben G. and Martha I Soliz of Kingsville, found himself in just that role recently when he was announced at midfield during high school football’s biggest contest - the U.S. Army sponsored All-American Bowl.

Soliz was honored as a soldier-hero, one of more than 90 throughout the Army who had been awarded either the Silver Star, Bronze Star or Purple Heart during deployments to Iraq or Afghanistan.

The soldier-heroes were each matched with an all-star player before the kick off of the contest that pits the best players in the nation against each other in an East versus West matchup.

“I was selected for the Army All-American Bowl for receiving the Bronze Star after my last deployment. I worked closely with the Provincial Reconstruction Team to help the Iraqi Ministry of Education in Tikrit to build 40 high School libraries and improve the English language classes,” explained Soliz, who graduated in 1991 from H.M. King High School, and received a bachelor’s degree in biology in 2004 from Texas A&M University-Kingsville. “It is a great honor to be one of the 90 soldiers selected from the Army’s Active, Reserve, and National Guard components.”

During activities in the days leading up to game day, Soliz was involved with the players, as well as other soldier heroes in events such as a skills competition, a barbeque and a banquet held in their honor.

“The week here in San Antonio has been great. The community has really opened up and welcomed us,” said Soliz.

“These players are not only great athletes, but great kids with a good future ahead of them. It’s been an opportunity to show these kids what teamwork is all about, brining together the greatest team in the world-- --the Army.”

Soliz says he believes that not only players, but young people overall, can benefit from serving their country, whether in the military, or in projects close to where they live.

“I would like to instill the three principles I work by. My commander introduced them to me. Number one, be tactically and technically proficient; number two, be value added; and number three, my favorite, have fun. You have to be good at what you do-you have to bring something to the table and have fun at what you are doing,” said Soliz. “I love being in the military. It’s more than a job, it’s a part of me, and I make it my own.”

Today, Soliz is commander of the 211th Regional Support Group, Corpus Christi. He has been in the military for 18 years and been deployed to Iraq twice.