John Manuel Torres, a Houston Army Reserve soldier, went home to our Lord on July 12, 2004 while serving "The war on Terror" in Afghanistan. John was born in Cordoba, Argentina on February 7, 1979 and resided in Houston since 1980. He joined the Army Reserves in 1996 in the 453rd Transportation Company and began his training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina to complete his Basic Combat Training on April 10, 1997. On June 16, 1997 he completed a Cargo Specialist Course at Fort Eustis, Virginia. Later, he was called to Bosnia for duty and served on the 441st Transportation Company Detachment Two from October 8, 1997 to May 15, 1998 and received the NATO Medal, Armed Services Medal and Armed Forces Reserve Medal. On June 22, 1999 he received a Certificate of Appreciation for outstanding service on the 441st Port Operations Cargo Detachment for his service in Hungary. Also, he received the Army Achievement Medal for his "motivation, energy and technical expertise for the success of the 453rd Company mission" on May 25, 2001. John graduated from Parkview Baptist High School on May 28, 1996. While completing the Basic training in Fort Jackson, he initiated his degree towards Business at the Harold Washington Military Service School. Later, he continued his studies at the University of Houston's Bauer College of Business in the summer of 1998. On June 20, 2002 John was placed on the Bauer College of Business Dean's list for excellent grades. John received his Bachelors of Business Administration in Accounting and Finance in December of 2002. John is survived by Susana Ferro (Mother), Juan D. Torres (Father), Ricardo Wacinowski (Step-father), Paola Ferro-Wacinowski (Sister), Veronica Santiago (Sister), Evan Santiago (Nephew), Andrea Ferro (Aunt), Mariano Santiago (Brother-in-Law), Elizabeth Wise (Fiancée), and best friends Mo Amer, Nick Jahanian, Sargon Palmer, Vincent LaCourt, Neal Dave, Akash Gupta, Guillermo Mezzatesta. Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 at St. Justin Martyr Catholic Church, 13350 Ashford Point Drive, at 3:00 P.M. Family will be receiving friends on Monday, July 19, 2004 at Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home from 4:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M. with a rosary being recited at 7:00 P.M. Interment will be in Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery at a later date. We give thanks to Mario and Maggie Rios, the Huguenine family, the Wise family, the Lopez family, the Doussausoy family, Craig Wilkins and the employees from Devon Energy, the employees from the westchase Marriott, and the employees from the Embassy Suites in Rosemont, Illinois. Also, we give thanks to our family members in Argentina; the Ferro family, the Torres family, the Pilone family, the Wacinowski family, and the Santiago family. John is remembered for his positive attitude towards life, his love for his family and friends, his generosity for the homeless, his smile that brightens everyone's day, his laughter, and his outstanding luck at Black Jack. He touched everyone's heart that knew him and most of all he always gave without expecting anything in return. John will be truly missed but his spirit remains with all of us who remember him, and remember that God only takes the best. My heart is glad, and my glory rejoices, my flesh also will rest in hope (Psalm 16).