Army Sgt. Javier Marin Jr.

Died January 24, 2005 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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29, of Mission, Texas; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry, 1st Infantry Division, Vilseck, Germany; killed Jan. 24 when his Bradley fighting vehicle overturned in Mohammed Sacran, Iraq. Four other soldiers were also killed.

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Texas soldier dies in Iraq as vehicle rolls into canal

Associated Press

STORM LAKE, Iowa — The soldier son of a Storm Lake woman has been killed in Iraq, family members reported.

Army Sgt. Javier Marin Jr., 29, of Mission, Texas, was reportedly among the five 1st Infantry Division soldiers who died Monday when their Bradley fighting vehicle rolled into a canal northeast of Baghdad during a sandstorm.

Marin has not yet been officially listed as killed by the Defense Department.

Marin’s sister, Evalina, said in Storm Lake that her mother was crushed by the news of Javier’s death, delivered Thursday at the turkey-packing plant in Storm Lake where she now lives.

“They called me to come and get her because my mom was just out of control,” Evalina Marin said.

Evalina said the family plans to bury Marin in Mission, where he grew up. He was a graduate of Mission High School.

The family last heard from Marin the day he died, when he e-mailed to thank them for the cards they sent for his birthday on Jan. 21.

“He loved to joke around. He said, ‘Thank you for my cards, but I’m waiting for the money,”’ Evalina said. “He told my mom he was going to come home soon. He was yearning to have fun. He was just young — 29 and not married.”