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In Memoriam |
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In Memoriam |
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SSgt. Gene Ramirez (KIA)
(reprinted from MySanAntonio.com, November 21, 2004)
Marine honored as a 'true friend'
Web Posted: 11/21/2004 12:00 AM CST
They came to St. Leo's Catholic Church by the hundreds Saturday, some wearing yellow or red, white and blue ribbons pinned to their clothing, others clutching small American flags. They all were there to honor Marine Staff Sgt. Gene Ramirez.
Ramirez, 28, a San Antonio native, was killed in Iraq's Al Anbar province Nov. 10. He was a motor vehicle operator assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force based at Camp Pendleton, Calif.
This was Ramirez's second deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During his last visit home in September, he rebuffed his mother's request that he not return for a second tour, saying it was his duty to fight in the war.
The 1995 Harlandale High School graduate entered the Marine Corps in January 1996.
Mourners at the afternoon Mass heard family and friends describe the blue-eyed bachelor as an uncommonly good man.
"He was a special person who had a kind heart," said a cousin, Debbie Muzquiz. "He was a Marine, but above all, he was a friend and a great son."
Ricardo Marquez, who roomed with Ramirez in California, said he heard stories from his friend about family.
"If friendship was wealth, we'd all be rich, because Gene was a true friend," Marquez said.
Applause rang out when Carlos Vela, a member of VFW Post 2059, announced that he will push to have a proposed new post in Lytle named after the young Marine.
Vela said he has already received permission from Ramirez's parents, Pedro and JoAnn Ramirez, to forge ahead with plans to seek a charter for the new post.
Ramirez's parents moved to Lytle, a small community 25 miles southwest of San Antonio, in 1999.
An older son, Pete Ramirez, was killed in the 1990s.
Gene Ramirez was the couple's youngest son. They also have a daughter, Pamela, who is married and the mother of three.
Another member of Ramirez's outfit, Master Sgt. Alan Hall, presented his family with a Purple Heart awarded posthumously.
One of the mourners at the church was Maricela Flores, 42, whose nephew, Marine Lance Cpl. Raul Corral, tended to Ramirez after he was wounded.
"Gene was his best friend; he died in Raul's arms," Flores said as she rocked her nephew's infant son, 5-month-old Julio Corral. "Raul is taking it real hard."
Related by marriage to the Ramirez family, Lupe Sanchez, 40, described Ramirez as a man who never turned down a chance to help others.
"He couldn't say no," said Sanchez, who wore an identification card with Ramirez's photo and the words "My friend, my hero, you will be greatly missed."'
Ramirez, she said, loved to go camping with his family at Braunig Lake, especially on holidays.
Ramirez was buried in San Fernando Cemetery No. 2.
His family placed a Texas Longhorns shirt and cap inside the casket.
"Gene was an all-out sports fanatic whose favorite saying was 'Hook 'em, Horns,'" said Michael Woods, his brother-in-law.