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thedrifter
12-08-05, 08:42 AM
Friends who joined Marines together killed in Encinitas crash
Karina Ioffee
Record Staff Writer
Published Thursday, Dec 8, 2005

Justin Travnicek and Douglas Hunter were inseparable.

They became fast friends at Lodi's Middle College High School, joined the Marines and shared an apartment near Camp Pendleton, where they were stationed. And on Sunday, they will be given full military honors and buried side by side at Cherokee Memorial Park in Lodi.

Travnicek, 21, and Hunter, 22, were killed Saturday by a speeding driver who crashed into their car. The men were inside a 2002 Volvo, which was stopped on the side of Highway 5 in Encinitas. They were ejected from the car and died from their injuries.

San Diego resident Jason Carl Gollmer, 25, was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving resulting in death, authorities said.

Travnicek grew up in Lodi and joined the Marines after graduating in 2002. In 2004, he was sent to Iraq as a helicopter repairman, said his mother, Beverly Ives. He returned from his Iraq tour in the spring.

"When they are in Iraq, you are nervous. You're watching the TV, and when they finally get back, you say, 'Oh goody, now they are back,' she said.

Hunter, who grew up in Stockton and also graduated in 2002, was stationed in Okinawa, Japan. His family declined an interview request.

Cyndy Green, a teacher at Middle College High School, remembered Travnicek as a hard-working student.

"I think he went into the Marines to find direction and did pretty well there," she said.

At the time of the accident, Travnicek and Hunter each had two years of military service ahead of him.

Hunter had recently married, and Travnicek had plans to enroll in computer classes. Travnicek, a runner, will be buried in full military regalia but with running shoes on his feet and an iPod.

Travnicek's family plans a celebration at 1 p.m. Saturday at Twin Oaks Community Church, 8800 Thornton Road, Stockton. Graveside services are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Cherokee Memorial Park in Lodi.

Contact reporter Karina Ioffee at 209 546-8279 or kioffee@recordnet.com

Ellie

OLE SARG
12-08-05, 10:45 AM
That driver (gollmer) needs to be hung up by his scrotum until he dies!!!!!!
Drinking is fine, if that's your thing, JUST don't drive a vehicle after drinking.
Such a waste of three young men's lifes.

SEMPER FI,
OLE SARG :mad:

thedrifter
12-10-05, 06:14 AM
Home, but not out of harm's way
Recordnet

Neighbors told Jody Ives that two Marines in full dress uniform had been to his Armstrong Road house earlier Sunday but left because no one was home.

It had to be bad news. Ives' stepson was a Marine.

"I didn't say anything," Ives said. "I knew they were coming back."

Beverly Ives had steeled herself for that visit. Her 21-year-old son, Justin Travnicek, was a helicopter mechanic and had been in Iraq for eight months. She worried every day about his safety, absorbing news reports of any American casualties to make sure he was OK and was reassured by his e-mails.
He protected his mom from further worry, reminding her there was little danger at their remote base in the desert, while he told Jody Ives about the mortar fire overhead and asked him to keep it secret.

But that was months ago. Travis had been stateside since Easter, stationed at Camp Pendleton, north of San Diego, and the danger had passed.

"You literally let your guard down when they get back," Beverly Ives said this week. "You take a sigh of relief and say, 'Good, he's safe.'"‰"

Justin Travnicek planned on spending two more years in the Marines, fulfilling his five-year obligation. He'd enlisted in 2002 after graduating from the Lodi Unified School District's Middle College at Delta and intended to return to school to learn even more about computers. His goal was to get a job with Apple.

He'd met his best friend, Stockton's Doug Hunter, while at Middle College, and the young men enlisted together. Although their paths in the Marines led them in different locations, they both returned to Camp Pendleton -- Hunter with a new wife.

Their friendship was so strong that Travnicek and the new couple took an apartment together.
"They just clicked," Beverly Ives said. "They were inseparable."

Thanksgiving came, and Jody and Beverly Ives drove their camper trailer to Camp Pendleton for a five-day visit. Hunter went home to Stockton.

Travnicek, a cross-country runner in high school, took part in a 10-kilometer race in Orange County, and he and his parents cooked their Thanksgiving turkey in the trailer.

"We did a lot," Beverly Ives said. "The three of us had a wonderful time."

They drove home Sunday. Hunter rejoined his friend at Pendleton and on Dec. 3 drove down Interstate 5 to visit friends in San Diego to celebrate Hunter's 22nd birthday. On their return, they were nearly back at the Marine base around 3 a.m. when Travnicek lost control of his Volvo, which came to rest in the freeway's far left lane. Their air bags had deployed, and the two men likely were trying to escape the car.

Then came Jason Gollmer, according to police. Authorities say the 24-year-old may have been driving in excess of 100 mph and had been drinking. He crashed into the Volvo, splitting it in two, officials said.

Travnicek and Hunter were killed. Gollmer was arrested and bailed out of jail. He faces two counts of vehicular homicide.

The formally dressed Marines came back to Armstrong Road on Sunday. Jody Ives met them at the door, talked with them briefly and led them to his wife.

Beverly Ives said the Marines' support has been overwhelming. Seven are staying with the family, 10 more are driving from Camp Pendleton for Sunday's burial at Cherokee Memorial Park, and another 20 from the Sacramento area are expected to attend.

Hunter's funeral is Monday, and the two Marines will be buried the way they lived and died, side by side.
Contact Lodi Bureau Chief Jeff Hood at 209 367-7427 or jhood@recordnet.com

Ellie