Javier Chavez Jr., 19

Marines, Private 1st Class

Based: Camp Pendleton

3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force

Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom

Died: February 9, 2006

Fallouja (near), Iraq

Married

Gender: Male

Hometown: Cutler

High School: Orosi High (Orosi)

Burial: Hanford Cemetery, Hanford, Calif.

I'm kinda mad. He was young. He wanted so many things in his life. It's not fair for anybody.

— Janie Gonzales, widow

Chavez had an iguana named MoJo, along with guinea pigs and turtles. On his first date with his wife he brought his dog, Pancho, and they could not get into the movie theatre. Instead, they went to dinner.

Times obituary

« Chad Gonsalves, 02/13/2006

Roberto L. Martinez Salazar, 02/04/2006 »

Five memories of Javier Chavez Jr.

Javier was a dear friend and fellow marine to me. I will miss him very much and I am proud of him. His memory will live on forever as one who gave his life for his friends.
Cpl. Ben Jones
USMC

— Ben Jones

May 28, 2008 at 7:41 a.m.

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We will always love you! you are in our hearts forever.

Mayra
David
Savanna
Sergio Jr.

— Mayra Acosta

July 13, 2009 at 4:21 p.m.

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Javi we love you and miss you alot...we really wish you were stilll with us....and we are so proud of you
-love always your cousin jessica<3

— jessica baltazar

November 25, 2009 at 12:12 p.m.

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I knew you since kindergarden. You were a dear friend and a wonderful husband to your wife. During the last year of high school you were so in love, I could see it in your eyes. You had finally found love with a wonderful girl. Although it has been years, you are not forgotten.

— Denice Rivera

July 26, 2010 at 1:10 a.m.

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I first came to hanford in 7th grade. And the only one and true friend (javier) took me under is wing and we became best friend... intill we grad.. love u brother always and forever...

— Matt montes

February 27, 2011 at 8:09 a.m.

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Sources: Times research, Defense Department, iCasualties.org
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California's War Dead is the Los Angeles Times' collection of stories about the 700 California servicemembers and 474 others based in California who died during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.