Another Southern Califorinia family mourns a fallen Marine

During his few months in Iraq, Marine Cpl. Miguel Guzman of Norwalk earned a reputation as a dedicated and top-notch mechanic. This month, about half way through his tour of duty, the 21-year-old was killed along with three other Marines after a bomb struck their Humvee.

This morning, more than 300 relatives and friends gathered in Whittier to praise and mourn Guzman in English and Spanish during funeral services, reports The Times' Francisco Vara-Orta:

A handful of Marines consoled Guzman's parents, Jose and Rosalba, handing them the flag draped over their son's casket and telling them in Spanish their son was awarded the Purple Heart.

While the family resisted breakdowns in crying during the funeral, both male and female relatives cried openly at the burial site, with Guzman's eldest brother, Jose Jr., kissing the casket and whispering "I love you" in Spanish.

Vara-Orta and Tony Perry are working on a full story.

-- Jesus Sanchez

Photo: Carlos Chavez / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[John Kenneth FInegan]

please contact the president about this. let him know of all the waste, death, destruction. you can find his e mail easily on the web