Pfc. Zachary G. Lovejoy of Albuquerque, N.M. graduated from La Cueva High School in 2008 where he was a member of the ROTC. He enlisted in the US Army his senior year and shipped out to boot camp at Fort Benning, GA on August 19, 2008, one day before his 19th birthday. Zach completed Airborne training in February, 2009 and immediately started the Ranger Indoctrination Program (RIP) but injured his knee and received a medical deferral. Zach was then assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC. He was on his first deployment and deployed to Afghanistan on August 28, 2009. Being an Infantry Soldier was all Zach wanted from early elementary. Zach had a great passion to serve and protect his country. He was an athlete, an outdoorsman, and a joy to be with. In high school, Zach played football and wrestled. He enjoyed camping, atv riding, snow skiing and started water skiing. Zach was a great joy to be around and his high-energy, fun-loving zest for life was contagious. He loved being a US Army Infantry Solider, was a good soldier and died doing what he wanted to do. He made his family and friends proud and he was proud to be a soldier. Zach met his fiance, Kaitlin, in the spring of 2009 and a June 4, 2011 wedding was planned. His family and Kaitlin's family were both big parts of Zach's life. He is survived by his parents Terry and Mike and his sister Ashley of Albuquerque; his fiance Kaitlin Varner of Jonesville, SC; his Grandparents Rose and Lowell Lovejoy of Staunton, IL; aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. He died at age 20 of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device Feb. 2 in Zabul province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.