A Mass of Christian Burial for SFC Alejandro "Alex" Granado, III, age 42, of Tatum, Texas, will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, August 10, 2009, at St. William of Vercelli Catholic Church, 4088 NW Loop, Carthage, Texas under the direction of Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home. A graveside service with full military honors will follow in Tatum Cemetery, 540 S. Forest St., Tatum, Texas. The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. on Sunday at Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home Chapel with a rosary to be recited at 7 p.m. SFC Granado was killed in action in Eastern Afghanistan on Sunday, August 2, 2009.

Alejandro "Alex" Granado, III was born on July 24, 1967, in Ciudad Acuna, Mexico to Rosalinda and Alejandro Granado Jr. He graduated from Tatum High School in 1986 where he was a member of the track team for which he won a bronze medal at the state track meet. At age 18, adult responsibilities were upon Alex even before he graduated high school. Already married and with a child on the way, joining the military offered a steady and secure income. He saw a chance to travel in addition to job stability. His military career spanned 23 years, having served in Desert Storm in 1991, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom. He was last home in July of 2009 and during that visit he told his family he was apprehensive about his latest trip to Afghanistan. He went so far as to predict that he wouldn't be coming back. He was among three soldiers killed in a militant ambush in Eastern Afghanistan. Alex worked for Gould Global, a defense contractor, for two years in Iraq and Afghanistan. His military education includes the Basic Airborne Course, Special Forces Intelligence Analyst Course, Special Operations Interdiction Course, Air Assault Course and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Course. His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Valorous Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Southwest Asia Medal, Liberation of Kuwait Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, NATO Medal, Non Commissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Driver and Mechanic Ribbon, Mississippi War Medal. Alex also earned the Combat Infantry Badge, Air Assault Badge, Parachutist Badge, and the Special Forces Tab.

Alex is survived by his mother and father, Alejandro Granado, Jr. and Rosalinda Granado of Tatum; two sons, Alex Granado, IV of Gladewater and Hasson Granado of Tatum; one daughter, Amanda Granado of Tatum; two brothers, S/Sgt. Jose Granado of Tatum and Rolando Granado of Longview; three sisters, Dionicia Cruz and husband Gregorio, Cynthia Granado, and Susana Granado all of Tatum; and two grandchildren. Numerous uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and many friends also survive Alex.

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.