LCpl. Robert Martinez

(reprinted from KHOU.com, December 3, 2005)

Splendora family’s ‘diamond in the rough’ lost
A Splendora family had their Christmas wish turn into a nightmare Friday.

They found out early Friday morning that their son, who was a Marine in Iraq, was killed in Fallujuah by a roadside bomb.

Robert Alexander Martinez was 20 years old and proud to serve his country, said his stepfather.

What’s even more heartbreaking is that he was expected to come home on Monday.

However, at the last minute his return trip was delayed by a month.

Now Jeremy Hunt mourns the loss of his stepson.

“He was a diamond in the rough for me,” said Hunt. “He was one of the greatest things I ever had come into my life. He was a great son, but not only a great son but a great friend to me.”

The Marine graduated from Cleveland High School two years ago and was a varsity baseball pitcher.

Everyone remembered him as the boy with the infectious smile.

His parents are still waiting to find out when his body will be shipped home.

It’s not known if Martinez was one of 10 Marines killed in Fallujah on Thursday. That attack is the deadliest single attack against American forces in Iraq in nearly four months. Eleven other Marines were hurt.