California’s War Dead

    Jose Angel Garibay

    Jose Angel Garibay, 21

    Marines, Corporal
    Nasiriya, Iraq
    Gender: Male
    Hometown: Costa Mesa
    Foreign Country of Birth: Mexico
    We are freedom's answer to fear. We do not bargain with terror. We stalk it, corner it, take aim and kill it.
    — Jose Angel Garibay, in final letter to his girlfriend

    Garibay was born in Mexico. His death helped focus public attention on the contributions of so-called "Green Card" troops. Members of Congress cited his case when they streamlined the process for legal residents serving in the armed forces to become U.S. citizens.
    Times obituary
    « Jorge Alonso Gonzalez, 03/23/2003
    Michael Edward Bitz, 03/23/2003 »
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    Four memories of Jose Angel Garibay

    I went to High School with Jose. We joined the Marines together and were in the same platoon in boot camp.

    I remember 2 months into boot camp, he walked over to me one evening during the 20 minutes of liberty time we were given and he said, "How are you doing Harry?" I hadn't heard my first name said to me in over two months and it stunned me. He brought me back down to Earth and reminded me of the world that existed outside of that rather unpleasant, at the time, situation we were both in.

    He was an incredible friend and a truly dedicated Marine.

    — Harry Agdayan
    November 12, 2010 at 7:58 p.m.
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    I stumbled upon this feature on the LA time site, though I don't know this soldier. I thanks Jose and his family for his service to our country, I'm so sorry for the loss. He's a hero in my book!

    — Kevin Gregory
    December 8, 2010 at 11:42 p.m.
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    Even tho my cousin is gone from this place we call Earth, he is still in our hearts. He is in a better place were many of us call paradise. R.I.P Jose Angel Garibay

    — florentino garibay
    March 1, 2011 at 8:23 p.m.
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    One great hero. Too bad he didn't live to see Osama's death. May this great Marine Rest In Paradise.

    — Adriana & Rejino Flores
    May 12, 2011 at 9:39 p.m.
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    California's War Dead is the Los Angeles Times' collection of stories about the 736 California servicemembers and 490 others based in California who died during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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