Army Pfc. Steven J. Walberg-Riotto, 18, Paradise; killed in sniper attack
From the time he was 7, Steven Joseph Walberg-Riotto wanted to be in the military.
He played “soldier” throughout his childhood. At his small church in Live Oak, Calif., near his hometown of Paradise, he joined a mentoring program called Men of Honor.
He became the real thing upon graduation from high school last year, even persuading his mother to sign a form allowing him to enlist early. He celebrated his 18th birthday during basic training.
On April 14, Army Pfc. Walberg-Riotto, 18, was killed when his unit was attacked with small-arms fire in Baghdad. He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division at Ft. Riley, Kan.
“When kids are in their adolescence, they have all of these issues, the issues that teenagers do. He wanted to get through that quickly and be a man of honor, full of strength and vision and purpose,” said Maria Altizer, pastor of his church, the Father’s House. “He did what was in his heart. He accomplished what he felt he was set out in life to do.”
In a statement, Walberg-Riotto’s family said the military has confirmed that he volunteered to provide security for an officer in Baghdad. His unit came under sniper fire, and Walberg-Riotto was fatally wounded while returning fire.
“Due to his rapid response, he [ensured] the safety of the others in his unit,” the family’s statement said.
The officer he was protecting has told Walberg-Riotto’s family that he was a hero, and that “the family should be very proud of Steven for his duty to his country and heroic effort to save the soldiers in his element.”
Walberg-Riotto’s mother and aunt declined to comment further.
Born Aug. 19, 1988, in Chico, Calif., he was drawn to the regimen of the military lifestyle, his family said, and the discipline and organization that it required of him.
Walberg-Riotto graduated from Pleasant Valley High School in Chico in 2006. He had taken a number of advanced courses, said Karen Olberg, his counselor for four years, and showed a special knack for math and science. “He was a very bright young man,” she said.
Olberg said she assumed that he would one day use his military training in the civilian world, perhaps becoming an engineer. She said the community has shouldered a “deep sadness” since learning of his death.
“We knew this was something that was very important to him, and we respect that very much,” she said. “But to see this kind of talent lost is just really sad.”
Walberg-Riotto is survived by his mother, Karen Riotto, and stepfather, Leonard Riotto, of Paradise; his father, Steve Walberg of Reno; a sister, Leanna Riotto of Paradise; a brother, Jason Riotto of Salinas, Calif.; and his grandparents, Jim and Lee Riotto of Paradise.
A memorial service was held April 25 at Neighborhood Church in Chico. Several hundred people attended. The graveside service was at Skyway Memorial Park in nearby Magalia.
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War casualties
Total U.S. deaths*:
* In and around Iraq**: 3,358
* In and around Afghanistan***: 320
* Other locations***: 61
Source: Department of Defense* Includes military and Department of Defense-employed civilian personnel killed in action and in nonhostile circumstances
**As of Friday
***As of April 28
