Ceres Marine Killed In Iraq

Apr 11, 2006 3:22 pm US/Pacific
Ceres Marine Killed In Iraq

(AP) CERES, Calif. A 24-year-old woman who was inspired to join the Marines after her younger twin brothers enlisted was fatally shot in the head in Iraq over the weekend.

Lance Cpl. Juana Navarro, of Ceres, was killed Saturday while guarding other soldiers during a mission in the Iraqi province of Anbar, said Marine Capt. Donn Puca.

``This was something she always wanted to do,'' said her older sister, Beatriz Lopez.

She left for duty in May, her family said.

Navarro was born in Michoacan, Mexico, and she and a twin sister became U.S. citizens at age 13. She graduated from Johansen High School in Modesto in 2000, where she volunteered with special education children.

She showered her three nephews with gifts, Lopez said.

``She was like a second mom to my oldest,'' Lopez said. ``When I told him she died, his face, it just shattered into pieces.''

Ellie