About two weeks ago in Afghanistan on March 30th, Roberto Cazarez, 24 years of age, of Harbor City, California was blown up. Not a big news event in the U.S. as nearly everyone but his wife, his family, his friends, his teachers and his military brothers-in-arms went on about their business as normal, unaware of what happened to this young man.
Of Mexican ancestry, Roberto joined the Marines right after his high school graduation in 2006, determined to serve the U.S. and to become a citizen. Being only 5 foot 6 inches tall didn't stop him as a soldier nor earlier as a high school baseball player.
"He was an extremely sociable player and a really good teammate," his coach Bill Dillon told the local newspaper, the Daily Breeze. "He was really hardworking, trustworthy, always punctual - all the things you want in a father and a son."
Roberto wasn't a talented enough player to be in the starting lineup, he came off the bench whenever he was needed and often from the bench he cheered his team on. And after his playing days, he wrote his coach a thank-you letter.
After Roberto's death, Sgt. Sterling Bullock told the Daily Breeze, "He was a good kid. Upbeat, always motivated, always wanting to get better. ... He was always asking for advice on how to get better. What he needed to do to further himself." Unfortunately, Roberto will no longer be there to enthusiastically ask his questions, push himself to do better and to cheer on others, for this is what war does.
After the tragic killing in Florida of 17 year old Trayvon Martin, a black youth, President Obama was deeply moved and said Trayvon could have been his son. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4214746/President-Obama-Shot-black-teenager-could-have-been-my-son.html
That's true, and Trayvon could have been my son as well and I'm white. But Roberto also could have been the president's son and my son and to you dear reader, perhaps a son or a brother. But unlike Trayvon, he died unknown to most of the public and so his birth parents and the rest of his family are left to quietly bury his remains, along with all of his hopes and dreams.
If only Roberto's death could be the initiative to finally end all the U.S.'s wars, it would save countless lives and immeasurable heartache.
Dick
To read more about Roberto, please see "Narbonne grad killed in combat," the Daily Breeze http://www.dailybreeze.com/ci_20392033/harbor-city-man-dies-afghanistan
Of Mexican ancestry, Roberto joined the Marines right after his high school graduation in 2006, determined to serve the U.S. and to become a citizen. Being only 5 foot 6 inches tall didn't stop him as a soldier nor earlier as a high school baseball player.
"He was an extremely sociable player and a really good teammate," his coach Bill Dillon told the local newspaper, the Daily Breeze. "He was really hardworking, trustworthy, always punctual - all the things you want in a father and a son."
Roberto wasn't a talented enough player to be in the starting lineup, he came off the bench whenever he was needed and often from the bench he cheered his team on. And after his playing days, he wrote his coach a thank-you letter.
After Roberto's death, Sgt. Sterling Bullock told the Daily Breeze, "He was a good kid. Upbeat, always motivated, always wanting to get better. ... He was always asking for advice on how to get better. What he needed to do to further himself." Unfortunately, Roberto will no longer be there to enthusiastically ask his questions, push himself to do better and to cheer on others, for this is what war does.
After the tragic killing in Florida of 17 year old Trayvon Martin, a black youth, President Obama was deeply moved and said Trayvon could have been his son. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4214746/President-Obama-Shot-black-teenager-could-have-been-my-son.html
That's true, and Trayvon could have been my son as well and I'm white. But Roberto also could have been the president's son and my son and to you dear reader, perhaps a son or a brother. But unlike Trayvon, he died unknown to most of the public and so his birth parents and the rest of his family are left to quietly bury his remains, along with all of his hopes and dreams.
If only Roberto's death could be the initiative to finally end all the U.S.'s wars, it would save countless lives and immeasurable heartache.
Dick
To read more about Roberto, please see "Narbonne grad killed in combat," the Daily Breeze http://www.dailybreeze.com/ci_20392033/harbor-city-man-dies-afghanistan
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