First Lieutenant Daren Hidalgo, USMA Class of 2009, was killed in action in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, on Feb 20, 2011, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.  LT Hidalgo was the son of Jorge and Andrea Hidalgo of Waukesha, WI.  Because of his father’s work, he lived both in the Waukesha area and in York County, Pennsylvania, graduating from Dallastown Area High School where he was a championship wrestler. While at West Point he captained the Racquetball Team, was Brigade Combatives Champion, and as a Firstie served as Company Commander of G4.

LT Hidalgo branched Infantry and of course spent the first part of his Army career at Ft. Benning, GA. where he completed Infantry Basic Officer Leader Course, Airborne School, Army Combatives and the Stryker Leader Course. He also earned the coveted Ranger tab while at Benning. He was assigned to G Company, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Rose Barracks, Germany, and deployed to Afghanistan. There he served as an Infantry platoon leader in Kandahar Province which saw some of the most intense combat in the war. The regiment lost 20 soldiers during their yearlong deployment.

His service as an officer in the United States Army exemplified the motto of West Point: Duty, Honor, Country.  Sixteen days before LT Hidalgo was killed in action, he was with his platoon on a dismounted patrol when a member of the patrol triggered a tripwire explosive, injuring LT Hidalgo, who received shrapnel in his thigh. He was advised to have surgery and take several weeks off to recover, but he declined, saying he would take antibiotics, keep his leg wrapped and have it taken care of later. He said he couldn’t leave his platoon, because his men were depending on him.

Proceeds from the 1LT Daren M. Hidalgo bracelet will be donated to the Daren M. Hidalgo Memorial Fund.