LCpl. Michael S. Torres, U.S.M.C (KIA)

(reprinted from the El Paso Times, July 13, 2004)

El Paso Marine 'made us proud'

600 gather to mourn death of young hero

Laura Cruz
El Paso Times

Rossana Esparza and Michael A. Torres watched tearfully Monday as six U.S. Marines in their dress blue uniforms slowly folded the U.S. flag that their son, Lance Cpl. Michael S. Torres, died for last week in Iraq.

The 2002 Cathedral High School graduate was killed July 5 with two other Marines in combat near Fallujah, Iraq, and was buried Monday morning at Fort Bliss National Cemetery.

More than 600 family and friends surrounded Torres' parents to pay their respects and say goodbye to their friend, brother and hero.

"He fought for freedom and died for freedom," the Rev. Fabian A. Marquez told the mourners. "He brought us joy and made us proud. May his death change the world and bring peace."

Torres was assigned as a machine gunner to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force at Twentynine Palms, Calif., and deployed to Iraq in February.

Esparza stared at her son's flag-draped coffin, lifting her head occasionally only to wipe tears and to accept the U.S. flag the Marines folded, his Purple Heart medal and a Texas flag from the Texas State Guard. Torres, at the age of 17, served with Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 39th Military Police Brigade of the Texas State Guard.

"It hurts. He was one of our own," said Sgt. 1st Class John Holloway, who presented Esparza the Texas flag and served as Torres' first sergeant in the guard. "We've lost a good future leader. He was the type of person who would have come back to the community and been a great asset."

Before the burial, loved ones and El Pasoans who felt drawn to support Torres' family filled St. Patrick Cathedral in Central El Paso. His gray and silver casket, which was blessed by Bishop Armando X. Ochoa before entering the cathedral, was carried in by representatives from each of the armed services. Torres' father represented the Air Force and Torres' stepbrother, Gregory Michael Torres, represented the Navy.

Marquez, a longtime family friend and Torres' godfather, spoke to the mourners about Torres and the 21-year-old El Pasoan's desire to protect his loved ones and the nation.

"We loved Michael. We may not accept the way he died, but we accept what he wanted to do," Marquez said. "He felt he had a mission. He believed in freedom. He wanted to protect us all. We are thankful for the 21 years of life that the Lord allowed us with Michael."

Sitting in the far back pews, Maria Isela and Ramon Rubalcava, parents of Army Sgt. Isela Rubalcava, who died May 8 in Iraq, prayed for Torres' family.

"We are reliving all the emotions we felt when our daughter died," Ramon Rubalcava said. "There is still a great deal of pain. It doesn't stop or end. Day after day, we still remember her. It's very sad."

Gunnery Sgt. Anthony Phillips, a Marine with the Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Center, said that although he never met Torres, his death was still "the loss of a brother."

"I've been over there (Iraq), and the way this whole fight is shaping up it won't be my last time," Phillips said. "News of something like this made me think of how I feel about my Marines and how I had to get them home safely."

Hope Novella, who said she felt compelled to attend the funeral, said she did not know Torres or his family, but "I wanted to come and pay my respects on behalf of my husband and myself."

"He and his family have paid the ultimate sacrifice," she said between tears. "He was just a kid."