Location: 2232
Date: 8/11/2013
Rank: Staff Sergeant
Branch: U.S. Army
Operation: Operation Enduring Freedom
Army Staff Sergeant Octavio, “Tavo/Tavis/Bean,” Herrera was born in Nampa, Idaho at Mercy Medical Center on December 18, 1986. He was a great man, son, husband, brother, uncle, cousin, nephew and friend. He will be truly missed by the many people whose hearts he touched. Octavio was killed in action on August 11, 2013 in the Paktia Province in Afghanistan fighting bravely alongside his Brothers In Arms.
He is survived by his wife, Courtney R. Herrera of Clarksville, TN and his parents, Gerardo and Angelica Herrera, both of Caldwell, Idaho by way of Zacatecas, Mexico, his grandma Juana Carreon , his brother Sergio and his family Pricilla, Gabriel, and Caitlynn, his brother Miguel and his family Dulce, Evany, Daliah and Miguelito. He is also survived by his beloved sister and pride and joy, Claudia and her fiancée David, all from Caldwell, Idaho. He will be forever missed by his nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly, Miguel, Gabriel, Evany and Daliah. He also leaves behind his in-laws Keith and Karen Zillifro, and brother-in-law Alex Zillifro who loved him very much, and of course all of his Brothers In Arms.
Octavio joined the Army in July 2007, and was stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C., where he deployed twice to Afghanistan. He arrived at Fort Campbell, KY in September 2012, and re-enlisted for five more years during his third deployment to Afghanistan in 2013. He also went on an aide mission to Haiti through the Army to assist the country after the devastating hurricane. He was selected as an honorable few who participated in the D-Day reenactment of the parachute jump into Normandy, which he always noted as one of the highlights and honors of his career. His awards include two Army Commendation Medals, one Army Achievement Medal, a Meritorious Unit Commendation, one Army Good Conduct Medal, one National Defense Service Medal, one Afghanistan Campaign Medal (Third Campaign Phase), one Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon, one Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, one Army Service Ribbon, one Overseas Service Ribbon with numeral 2 Device, two NATO Medals, one Combat Action Badge, one Parachute Badge and one Air Assault Badg and will be receiving the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart Medal posthumously.