HANFORD, CA — County officials and family members gathered Wednesday morning at the Kings County Government Center Courthouse to unveil a new memorial sign along Highway 198. The marker honors Army Specialist Juan Miguel Mendez Covarrubias, a local soldier who was killed in action in Iraq.
The ceremony, reported by Fox 26 News, recognized the soldier’s deep ties to the Central Valley and allowed the community to formally honor his legacy and sacrifice.
Covarrubias was killed on March 11, 2020, during an enemy rocket strike at Camp Taji, located about 20 miles north of Baghdad. The attack targeted a base where allied troops trained Iraqi security forces. The strike killed three service members—two Americans and one British soldier—and wounded about 14 others.
The 2020 strike happened at a time of high international tension. Earlier that year, an American drone strike had killed a top Iranian military leader, Qassim Soleimani.
A Central Valley Legacy
A Delano native, Covarrubias graduated from high school in 2010 and Lemoore College in 2017. He joined the Army on June 3, 2018.
During the ceremony on Wednesday, the soldier’s sister, Karen Mendez, spoke about her brother’s character. She described him as a brave man who acted as a protector for those around him. Covarrubias is survived by his parents, Alfredo and Monica Covarrubias, and three siblings.
The memorial sign will be installed along Highway 198. The marker will serve as a permanent reminder of his service for everyone driving through the county he called home.
