thedrifter
09-04-05, 07:42 AM
1/5 Marines honor fallen Colorado comrade
2nd Marine Division
Story by Cpl. Tom Sloan
CAMP HURRICANE POINT, AR RAMADI, Iraq (Sept. 4, 2005) -- Evenor C. Herrera prided himself in being a Marine and relished every opportunity he got to fire his MK-19 Automatic Grenade Launcher.
The lance corporal with 3rd Platoon, Company W, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, operated his weapon for the last time the night of Aug. 10 when he perished on Iraq’s urban battlefield.
Herrera, from Avon, Colo., and originally Honduras, was 22-years-old when he fell fighting terrorism in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. It was his second combat deployment.
Marines and Sailors with the infantry battalion gathered here Aug. 18 and honored the late brave warrior with a memorial ceremony.
Lieutenant Col. Eric M. Smith, the infantry battalion’s commander, was the first to speak of Herrera and the sacrifice he made.
“Marines and Sailors,” said Smith, 39, of Plano, Texas, to those in attendance,
“He put his life on the line so other men didn’t have to.“That’s what Semper Fidelis means; always faithful. His actions were extraordinary for a young man from Colorado.”
Navy Lt. Aaron T. Miller, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines’ chaplain, followed Smith by delivering the invocation.
“As we say good bye to our brother, Evenor,” said the 32-year-old from Redlands, Calif., “we must think about how he died and what he died doing. He sacrificed his life to protect ours, and that makes him a hero.”
One of Herrera’s close friends, Lance Cpl. Jesus J. Garcia, followed Miller and delivered a heartfelt eulogy.
“He was smart, honest and hardheaded,” 21-year-old Garcia, a radio operator, who served in Herrera’s platoon, said. “He loved being a heavy machine gunner. He bragged about his gun a lot and how he liked to shoot it and how good he was.”
Garcia, from Eagle Pass, Texas, went on to share with his comrades his favorite memories of Herrera. The two met last January when they were attending a training exercise in Twenty-nine Palms, Calif., prior to deploying, he said.
“Ever since then,” said Garcia, fighting back tears, “we hung out. We became good friends, always talking about home. He loved his family.”
Garcia said he and Herrera would go to parties on the weekends and enjoyed eating out at different Mexican food restaurants.
“He’s a hero, and I believe he’s watching our six in heaven. He’s a Weapons Company guardian angel,” said Garcia.
Garcia finished his tribute and sat down. Herrera’s first sergeant, 1st Sgt. Dwayne W. Farr, then said the final role call, and scores of fellow brothers-in-arms went before Herrera’s memorial – a warrior’s monument comprised of his Kevlar helmet, M-16, dog tags and boots – and paid their respects.
Ellie
2nd Marine Division
Story by Cpl. Tom Sloan
CAMP HURRICANE POINT, AR RAMADI, Iraq (Sept. 4, 2005) -- Evenor C. Herrera prided himself in being a Marine and relished every opportunity he got to fire his MK-19 Automatic Grenade Launcher.
The lance corporal with 3rd Platoon, Company W, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, operated his weapon for the last time the night of Aug. 10 when he perished on Iraq’s urban battlefield.
Herrera, from Avon, Colo., and originally Honduras, was 22-years-old when he fell fighting terrorism in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. It was his second combat deployment.
Marines and Sailors with the infantry battalion gathered here Aug. 18 and honored the late brave warrior with a memorial ceremony.
Lieutenant Col. Eric M. Smith, the infantry battalion’s commander, was the first to speak of Herrera and the sacrifice he made.
“Marines and Sailors,” said Smith, 39, of Plano, Texas, to those in attendance,
“He put his life on the line so other men didn’t have to.“That’s what Semper Fidelis means; always faithful. His actions were extraordinary for a young man from Colorado.”
Navy Lt. Aaron T. Miller, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines’ chaplain, followed Smith by delivering the invocation.
“As we say good bye to our brother, Evenor,” said the 32-year-old from Redlands, Calif., “we must think about how he died and what he died doing. He sacrificed his life to protect ours, and that makes him a hero.”
One of Herrera’s close friends, Lance Cpl. Jesus J. Garcia, followed Miller and delivered a heartfelt eulogy.
“He was smart, honest and hardheaded,” 21-year-old Garcia, a radio operator, who served in Herrera’s platoon, said. “He loved being a heavy machine gunner. He bragged about his gun a lot and how he liked to shoot it and how good he was.”
Garcia, from Eagle Pass, Texas, went on to share with his comrades his favorite memories of Herrera. The two met last January when they were attending a training exercise in Twenty-nine Palms, Calif., prior to deploying, he said.
“Ever since then,” said Garcia, fighting back tears, “we hung out. We became good friends, always talking about home. He loved his family.”
Garcia said he and Herrera would go to parties on the weekends and enjoyed eating out at different Mexican food restaurants.
“He’s a hero, and I believe he’s watching our six in heaven. He’s a Weapons Company guardian angel,” said Garcia.
Garcia finished his tribute and sat down. Herrera’s first sergeant, 1st Sgt. Dwayne W. Farr, then said the final role call, and scores of fellow brothers-in-arms went before Herrera’s memorial – a warrior’s monument comprised of his Kevlar helmet, M-16, dog tags and boots – and paid their respects.
Ellie