Sergeant Charles Lopez (center), squad leader, 1st

Sergeant Charles Lopez (center), squad leader, 1st Squad, 2nd Platoon, Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, served with First of the First for eight years, his entire career. He’s deployed in support of combat operations to Fallujah, Iraq, twice, once on the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and most recently deployed to Helmand province, Afghanistan, during 2011Lopez had the choice to transition to another duty station when he re-enlisted during 2009, but he chose to stay with First of the First so he can sharpen his skills as an infantry rifleman and an antitank missileman. Lopez is a native of San Antonio.