Slain Marine Immigrated to U.S., Alone, as a Teen(Hero from Guatemala died for America)

LA Times, via cantonrep.com ^ | 3/.24/03 | LA Times

[Diddle E. Squat]

LOS ANGELES — Long before he ever traveled to the Persian Gulf, Marine Lance Cpl. Jose Gutierrez was acquainted with perilous and uncertain journeys.

Lanky, quiet and full of ambition, Gutierrez, 22, is believed to be the second U.S. serviceman to die in combat, an American Marine with a distinctive Southern California background: He was among thousands of Central American immigrants who for years have made their way north in dangerous personal odysseys.

At age 16, he had traveled by himself from his home in Guatemala, making his way across Mexico into the United States, where he was taken in by an older couple, who late in life had begun sheltering immigrant children.

Gutierrez made the 2,000-mile journey across the continent as one of many underage immigrants who come here from Latin America each year, seeking family members or jobs.

[Teetop]

This brave young man will never know any hurt anymore. May god bless him. He has 280 million people who thank for his sacrifices.

[anymouse]

Marine ping.

[Diddle E. Squat]

See post #16. The writer is not singling out this person, articles profiling individual fallen heroes are being written all over this country. We are collecting on that thread a story on each of these individuals.

The LEAST that every fallen soldier deserves is an article focusing on his/her life.

Sadly, I shudder to think what some would have posted her about fallen Black heroes if Free Republic had been around during World War II. Let's stick to giving this indivual thanks and honor for his noble sacrifice.

[fnord]

I know his next post ...

If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven's scenes.
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines.

Semper Fi Marine!

[Luis Gonzalez]

That was a very mild comment you removed here. Are we now in the habit of NOT being critical of SOME journalists?

"Anyone here want to bet this is one story Michelle Malkin will NOT be telling?"

What was wrong with that?

Michelle Malkin's tabloid conservatism has leveled some serious vitriol at people ranging from Michael Jackson, to Brittney Spears, to Hispanics...but this you find offensive?

Please explain, or at the very least, post a list of you all's sacred cows...or jurassic cats.

[skeeter]

Because it was a cheap shot & totally inappropriate.

Good move, Admin Moderator.

[hchutch]

So Michelle Malkin can dish cheap shots out, but she can't take `em?

Thanks for letting me know. No need to press this issue, then.

[skeeter]

So Michelle Malkin can dish cheap shots out, but she can't take `em?

You reduced a thread honoring this young man to score cheap political points. Better quit while you're behind.

[Liberty Valance]

Thank you, Lance Cpl. Jose Gutierrez

A Patriot....A Marine

Liberty

[Luis Gonzalez]

The question was valid, especially in light of the fact that the vast majority of individuals who worship at Malkin's feet are making the greatest statement of all by their noticeable absence from this thread.

[river rat]

Another brother lost....
Why must we always lose those we can least afford to lose...

Semper Fi

[livius]

Thank you for posting this. I knew a lot of Guatemalan immigrants in my parish when I lived in California, and they were all enormously grateful to the US and were really committed citizens. Of course, the left exalts liars such as Rigoberta Menchu, but the LatAm reality was very different.

Prayers for this brave Marine and his family.

[Luis Gonzalez]

"Gutierrez made the 2,000-mile journey across the continent as one of many underage immigrants who come here from Latin America each year, seeking family members or jobs."

Que Dios te bendiga hermano.

Libertad!

[skeeter]

The question was valid, especially in light of the fact that the vast majority of individuals who worship at Malkin's feet are making the greatest statement of all by their noticeable absence from this thread.

Perhaps they're absent because this isn't a Malkin thread.

And I will no longer be party to making it one. So long.

[usmc_chris]

The Marine Corps lives forever. Lance Corporal Guttierez will also live forever.

SEMPER FI

[IowaHawk]

Please send this article to Pat Buchanan.

[FITZ]

He came to America, quickly learned English, and volunteered for the Marines last year.

We'd be in great shape if all the immigrants did what this man did ---unfortunately some will try to use this man's death to promote other agendas ---and agendas he himself probably did not have.

[Luis Gonzalez]

Watch out my friend, comments like that get pulled around here.

Looks like one of the guys responsible for the death of the west, just died protecting it.

Rock on Lance Corporal Guttierez!

Guard those streets in Heaven mi hermano!

[Henchman]

I am sorry any of our folks are dead or captured. However, in my opinion, he was an illegal alien. Joining the military is a way around the system to gain legal status. If I am wrong, I apologize. I do think that he will have helped discourage the unarmed invasion of our country. ...as a teenager, he "Like thousands of other Central American immigrants, Marine Lance Cpl. Jose Gutierrez made the dangerous 2,000-mile journey from his native Guatemala, across Mexico and over the border into Southern California as a teenager." His first contact here was welfare.

Again, I am sorry he is gone. However, in my world, we would not have had a Saddam nor illegal immigrants. Hopefully, part of my world will return and the other is a hope.