House Resolution Seeks to Rename Suburban Post Office for Fallen Soldier

Army Sgt. Jose Dueñez Jr. was killed during a military training exercise in Lithuania last year.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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A bill sponsored by Rep. Lauren Underwood to rename the Plainfield, Illinois U.S. Post Office as the Staff Sergeant Jose Duenez Jr. Post Office Building has passed out of committee and is headed to the full House for a vote. Dueñez, who was raised in Joliet and graduated from Joliet Central High School in 2017, was killed along with three other soldiers during a military training exercise in Lithuania last year.

Why it matters

Renaming the post office would permanently honor Dueñez's service and sacrifice, ensuring his legacy lives on in the community where he grew up. The bipartisan effort to rename the facility reflects the widespread respect and admiration for Dueñez among both his family and local residents.

The details

Dueñez enlisted in the U.S. Army after graduating high school and was promoted five times during his service, becoming a staff sergeant in November 2020. Last year, his family received the tragic news that he had been killed, along with three other soldiers, during a military training exercise in Lithuania.

  • Dueñez graduated from Joliet Central High School in 2017.
  • Dueñez was promoted to staff sergeant in November 2020.
  • Dueñez was killed during a military training exercise in Lithuania last year.

The players

Rep. Lauren Underwood

The U.S. Representative who sponsored the bill to rename the Plainfield U.S. Post Office after Sgt. Jose Dueñez Jr.

Jose Dueñez Jr.

A staff sergeant in the U.S. Army who was killed during a military training exercise in Lithuania last year.

Beatriz Dueñez

The sister of Jose Dueñez Jr.

Leticia Dueñez

The mother of Jose Dueñez Jr.

Giovanni Ramirez

The nephew of Jose Dueñez Jr.

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What they’re saying

“Sometimes, I like to think that he is still coming back. I just miss being able to call him the most. I am just grateful for the memories we made together.”

— Giovanni Ramirez, Nephew of Jose Dueñez Jr. (nbcchicago.com)

“I was just so grateful people want to honor my brother. I am also grateful that so many people love him – people who never met him. He loved what he did and is still making us proud. That building will be here a long time after a lot of us our gone.”

— Beatriz Dueñez, Sister of Jose Dueñez Jr. (nbcchicago.com)

“It is such a great way to show that he was honored and respected. He paid the ultimate sacrifice for this country, a country he loved. We will be able take my grandson to the post office, and he will see his father's name and know what kind of person he was.”

— Leticia Dueñez, Mother of Jose Dueñez Jr. (nbcchicago.com)

What’s next

The bill to rename the Plainfield U.S. Post Office after Sgt. Jose Dueñez Jr. is expected to come up for a vote in the full House of Representatives in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

This effort to permanently memorialize a fallen soldier from the local community reflects the deep respect and appreciation his family, friends, and neighbors have for Sgt. Dueñez's service and sacrifice. Renaming the post office will ensure his legacy lives on for generations to come.