Atanacio Haro Marin Jr., 27

Army, Sergeant

Based: Ft. Hood, Texas

Battery C, 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment

Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom

Died: June 3, 2003

Balad, Iraq

Single

Gender: Male

Hometown: Baldwin Park

High School: Sierra Vista High (Baldwin Park)

Foreign Country of Birth: Mexico

Marin was born in a small Mexican village. His father came to the U.S. to pick fruit and work construction to support his wife and seven children, according to the Pasadena Star-News. When Marin was 2, they joined their father. In 2007, the Baldwin Park Post Office was renamed in Marin's honor.

Paul T. Nakamura, 06/19/2003

Jason William Moore, 05/19/2003

14 memories of Atanacio Haro Marin Jr.

“

My primo was a kid at heart, but a very honorable and responsible man. If you knew him like I did, then you would understand why I miss him so much. Nacho loved to have family gatherings at his home, so each time he came home everyone would go over to his home to have a family gathering including those family friends and neighbors. Each time he left, he would go to everyone's homes to say goodbye. The last time he was at our home, I refused to say goodbye to him because I thought that if I refused, he would have to come back home. But to my deep regret, he never did. So to this very day when I talk about Nacho, I shed tears of pain and sorrow, I love him and I miss him very much.

” — Carla Marin, August 14, 2008 at 6:44 p.m.

“

I called him simply Haro . I met him in the gaurd ,he was a good honest kid when I met him . When I heard his name that fateful morning I knew in my heart I new this person.Later on at work my nephew came to my work to share the bad news and when I seen my nephew I was sure of who it was. It was saddening to me cause he was so young ,and he always asked me so many questions about my tour in the gulf.One day in the gaurd the capt. asked if anybody could land a chopper to pick us up for advanced party .I said yes we landed a chopper and he got to ride with me ,he said thank you Delgado this was his first time ever in a chopper.I sometimes wish Id have never landed that chopper,cause after that day he always spoke about it ,its hard to explain the pain when you see people go this way.I was told Delgado when advance party leaves ,when we were in the gaurd ,Haro is next to you always,and i kept him there by my side always when it was time. Wish I couldve been there when he did his tour.Its strange how we grieve for fallen commrades ,I hope you all know ,he is with God now .He couldnt be anywhere else he was a very humble kid and very honest .Airborne In His Heart .DELGADO

” — DElGADO, May 27, 2009 at 9:56 a.m.

“

When the Haro family arrived to the block. We the loco kids quickly befriended Nacho and cheese,(Carlos) his younger brother. We would play baseball,football,soccer,cops and robbers.Nacho always carried himself a bit different, although only 1 year older than us. Manuel ,Jose (pepe),Frank and I would eat nutrition along with Nacho in Lincoln High.Nacho demonstrated leadership and disciplinary qualities as an adolescent, quickly scolding you, if you were on the wrong. So many stories like in Christmas time ,his Mom made the best tamales en salsa verde,roja we would all just head over to their house and eat tamales and converse with his cousins. Nacho was the fastest of us kids ,practically running a mile during a game of cops &robbers just to show you who was the best. He moved to Baldwin Park to complete his senior year of high school there. But the very few years he spent in Lincoln Heights,were truly unforgettable.. Nacho you instilled a part of you in us.. Never will be forgotten

” — Nelson Ornelas, May 29, 2010 at 5:33 p.m.

“

I remember growing up in Baldwin Park - at the city's center was Morgan Park, adorned with a black marble monument to our hometown's fallen of WW II. Today, I seek out to remember the modern day fallen brave men and women like U.S. Army Sergeant Atanacio Haro Marin, Jr., who gave to us his ultimate sacrifice. What I believe makes Sgt. Marin's sacrifice so significant is that he was born in Mexico and loved our great and wonderful nation so much that he made it his own to love and to serve - and to die for.

In the immortal message of President Abraham Lincoln given at Gettysburg, PA in 1863; please know that you have not died in vain, rather, it is for us the living to continue the unfinished work of our military heroes.

May God grant you eternal rest Sgt. Marin and may God bless America.

” — Gil Pacheco, May 31, 2010 at 8:16 a.m.

“

I had the privilege of having Sgt Haro as one of my Sgt's when I just joined the Army back in 2002. From the beginning he took me under his wing and showed me what a Sgt should be. Right now I have been serving for about 15 years now and have achieved the rank of SFC and I told myself I will carry on his legacy of how he took care of me when I was a young Soldier. When we lost him in Iraq it was the hardest thing I have had to experience by loosing a Sgt but much worst loosing a brother that showed me and all others that came in contact with him how a human being can be and how to exemplify what a Sgt should be. I'll always remember him from the first day I meet him until the very last minutes I saw him that night in Iraq. Sgt Haro Thank you for your support and leadership you have instilled and showed me and all others when you were here with us. Will remember you always brother Sgt Haro!

” — Francisco Alcala, March 10, 2017 at 12:42 a.m.

“

I was SGT Haro's Battery Commander at Ft. Hood and in Iraq. I will never forget the caller the radio that evening. We knew that there was contact at the platoon check point and they were fighting. The quick reaction force left for the scene. When I arrived they had already evacuated SGT Haro and another wounded soldier. It was several hours later after we tried to chase the enemy down when I was told the he had died of his wounds. He was an amazing soldier and friend to all in the battery. He could run circle around everyone in PT and still be smiling. I always laughed about his East LA jokes. I was never more proud than when he invited me to his swearing in ceremony when he officially became a US Citizen. Unfortunately that was less than a year before we deployed and he never got to enjoy fully the freedoms he fought for. We loved him and miss him. RIP SGT Atanacio "Nacho" Haro-Marin. Cyclone 6 (ancient), LTC Carl Poppe

” — Carl Poppe, March 25, 2017 at 11:36 p.m.

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Atanacio Haro Marin Jr., 27

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