Lemoore High grad among those dead in Afghanistan air disaster

A Lemoore High School graduate died in Afghanistan when the military transport aircraft he was on crashed, killing everyone on board.

The C-130 went down early on Oct. 2 just after midnight local time in Jalalabad. Six Air Force service members and five civilian contractors died, as well as three Afghanis on the ground, according to news reports.

Chris Ruiz, 29, graduated from Lemoore High in 2004, served in the Marines and was employed as a civilian contractor.

Ruiz served nine years in the Marines, and as a civilian contractor he inspected and repaired weapons systems for the Army, according to the Lemoore Leader online newspaper.

Lemoore High Principal Rodney Brumit said he learned about Ruiz’ death by text message Friday.

“He had a ton of leadership ability, even as a high school kid,” Brumit said.

“People still talk about him” because he was so well-liked, Brumit said.

Ruiz held the top student position of cadet commander in the Naval Junior ROTC program involving about 250 students.

He married his high school sweetheart, Lorelyn Reith. They lived in Menifee, south of Riverside. Survivors include their three children: two girls ages 5 and 1, and a 3-year-old son.

A gofundme page started by his wife had raised more than $19,000 for the family as of Monday afternoon.

This story was originally published October 5, 2015 at 6:49 PM with the headline "Lemoore High grad among those dead in Afghanistan air disaster."