thedrifter
08-21-07, 08:15 AM
Marine found dead
Cause of local man's death at facility under investigation
BY FELIX DOLIGOSA JR., Californian staff writer
e-mail: fdoligosa@bakersfield.com | Monday, Aug 20 2007 11:05 PM
Last Updated: Monday, Aug 20 2007 11:08 PM
Two Marine officers delivered the bad news to Ramiro and Rachel Hernandez Monday morning.
Their 24-year-old son, Lance Cpl. Ramiro Hernandez III, was found dead in his barracks bed, officers told the family.
Hernandez was unresponsive at 1 a.m. Monday at the Marine Air Ground Force Training Command in Twentynine Palms, family said. The barracks is near Palm Springs.
He was part of the Third Marine Fourth Regiment and was scheduled to deploy to Iraq sometime this year, his family said.
Officials do not know what caused the Marine's death and family members said he had no medical problems.
"He was perfectly healthy," said his mom, Rachel Hernandez, as she fought back tears.
As the Marines investigate the cause of death, family gathered at the Hernandez's home in the Silver Creek neighborhood in southwest Bakersfield Monday evening.
Family browsed through his awards and the pictures of Hernandez smiling in his Marine fatigues.
Relatives and friends remembered Hernandez Monday night in the parking lot at the Park at River Walk as they signed a poster of the Marine's pictures.
They shared stories of a son, brother and a friend.
"He was such a happy, good person," said his father, Ramiro Hernandez.
Hernandez was born along with his twin brother, Joe Hernandez, on June 21, 1983, in Bakersfield.
The bigger baby at 5 pounds, 21/2 ounces, it earned him the nickname "Gordo."
Hernandez always enjoyed physical activities while growing up, family members said.
He often spent time wake boarding and performing high-flying tricks at Lake Lopez or going bow hunting in the mountains.
In high school, Hernandez played defensive end for the Bakersfield High School football team.
He wrestled between the 140- and 160-pound weight division at school and was a part of the Drillers championship team in 2002, said Larry Morgan, assistant coach of the wrestling team.
"He was a great competitor who he did what he was told," Morgan said.
In high school, Hernandez was the popular guy who everyone liked, friends said.
When a guy got angry and combative with Kristy Figueroa, Hernandez was there to defend her.
"He was like a big brother," Figueroa said.
After graduating high school in 2002, Hernandez worked odd jobs such as a security officer and as a rescue member in the oil fields, his mom said.
He wanted to one day work in law enforcement and he knew joining the Marines would help.
"Ramiro wanted to work as a sheriff's deputy at home in Bakersfield," his father said.
Hernandez signed up for an eight-year commitment last year and he excelled as a Marine, his parents said.
He had become a squad leader and was going to be promoted to sergeant when he was stationed in Iraq, family said.
"When he set his mind on a goal, he met it," the mother said.
In April of this year, Hernandez was given the Paul Ison award at Camp Pendleton. Fellow Marines vote for the award. It's given to a soldier they would most want to serve with in combat.
The award ceremony was Rachel Hernandez's proudest moment for her son. "He didn't know he was getting it," she said.
Ellie
Cause of local man's death at facility under investigation
BY FELIX DOLIGOSA JR., Californian staff writer
e-mail: fdoligosa@bakersfield.com | Monday, Aug 20 2007 11:05 PM
Last Updated: Monday, Aug 20 2007 11:08 PM
Two Marine officers delivered the bad news to Ramiro and Rachel Hernandez Monday morning.
Their 24-year-old son, Lance Cpl. Ramiro Hernandez III, was found dead in his barracks bed, officers told the family.
Hernandez was unresponsive at 1 a.m. Monday at the Marine Air Ground Force Training Command in Twentynine Palms, family said. The barracks is near Palm Springs.
He was part of the Third Marine Fourth Regiment and was scheduled to deploy to Iraq sometime this year, his family said.
Officials do not know what caused the Marine's death and family members said he had no medical problems.
"He was perfectly healthy," said his mom, Rachel Hernandez, as she fought back tears.
As the Marines investigate the cause of death, family gathered at the Hernandez's home in the Silver Creek neighborhood in southwest Bakersfield Monday evening.
Family browsed through his awards and the pictures of Hernandez smiling in his Marine fatigues.
Relatives and friends remembered Hernandez Monday night in the parking lot at the Park at River Walk as they signed a poster of the Marine's pictures.
They shared stories of a son, brother and a friend.
"He was such a happy, good person," said his father, Ramiro Hernandez.
Hernandez was born along with his twin brother, Joe Hernandez, on June 21, 1983, in Bakersfield.
The bigger baby at 5 pounds, 21/2 ounces, it earned him the nickname "Gordo."
Hernandez always enjoyed physical activities while growing up, family members said.
He often spent time wake boarding and performing high-flying tricks at Lake Lopez or going bow hunting in the mountains.
In high school, Hernandez played defensive end for the Bakersfield High School football team.
He wrestled between the 140- and 160-pound weight division at school and was a part of the Drillers championship team in 2002, said Larry Morgan, assistant coach of the wrestling team.
"He was a great competitor who he did what he was told," Morgan said.
In high school, Hernandez was the popular guy who everyone liked, friends said.
When a guy got angry and combative with Kristy Figueroa, Hernandez was there to defend her.
"He was like a big brother," Figueroa said.
After graduating high school in 2002, Hernandez worked odd jobs such as a security officer and as a rescue member in the oil fields, his mom said.
He wanted to one day work in law enforcement and he knew joining the Marines would help.
"Ramiro wanted to work as a sheriff's deputy at home in Bakersfield," his father said.
Hernandez signed up for an eight-year commitment last year and he excelled as a Marine, his parents said.
He had become a squad leader and was going to be promoted to sergeant when he was stationed in Iraq, family said.
"When he set his mind on a goal, he met it," the mother said.
In April of this year, Hernandez was given the Paul Ison award at Camp Pendleton. Fellow Marines vote for the award. It's given to a soldier they would most want to serve with in combat.
The award ceremony was Rachel Hernandez's proudest moment for her son. "He didn't know he was getting it," she said.
Ellie