Rafael Martinez, Jr., 36

Although I never met you, I have great respect for you in doing all you could for your family. You live now and always. May God bless you and yours brother forever.

Wow...he was a great person...we met in 2006....He wanted to be a soldier so bad.....he was an inspiration to me. Rafa was a true patriot. And a very proud papa.

Rafa was my sister's husband. He was a very smart and funny family man with two children. He was extremely proud to be in the Army and to be a Cav-Scout. He served with great honor and was greatly loved by his fellow soldiers. We love him and miss him very much.

I was privileged in this life to have met Rafita when we lived in Stockton (Ca). We grew up together and assisted the same hall (church). A true prankster with a mischievous smile. Resurecion will reunite us, my brother.

Rafa was the uncle almost every teenage boy wanted. He was funny, smart, and a very loyal friend, husband and family man. Hes honestly the bravest man i knew. To most people surprise he was a very serious and well guided man that loved sharing his knowledge and wisdom to anyone willing to listen. I remember when he would tell me stories from back in his '' college'' days he wasn't the type of man to take lightly but he was also the biggest teddy bear ever.

I "adopted" Rafael through Soldiers Angels and though I never had the privilege to meet him, he will be missed. Many prayers to you Martinez family!!

Rafa is uncle to our daughter-in-law and respected friend of our son. We met him on three different occassions, one of which was in July 2010 before his deployment. Our hearts are very heavy for his family. We have come to love you all and will see some of you in a few weeks. Please know that you are in our prayers. We thank Rafa for the ultimate gift he gave for our freedom. Love and Respect Always, Blake and Debbie

To The Martinez Jr. Family and Friends:

I am truly sorry for the lost of your love one and would like to offer my condolence to you. You can read in your Bible what Psalms 46:9 says how Almighty God is going to make wars to cease. At Revelation 21:4,5 it tells us how He will end sickness and death. I hope when you read these scriptures it will give you a measure of comfort. May the God of peace and comfort be with you.

I too was in the Army and a Proud Cav Scout. Although I never met Rafael Martinez the Person or the Soldier. I have a strong Respect for the Man. God needed you more Brother. I wish I had the chance too meet you

He was a great friend and a very respectful pearson. He loved his family like no other and he always new how to make people laugh. The times that we had throw Iraq and Ft. Hood togeather he became a brother not just of the army but a true brother that I knew that if it ever came to it he would be there for me as I would for him. I will miss you greatly and forever rest in peace brother.

saludos y condolencias desde españa yo soy un soldado español que tuve el gran placer de conocer a rafael en afganistan y convivir con el hasta el ultimo momento alla donde estes un fuerte abrazo amigo

I think about you every day brother. We are going home now, sending some of the boys back to the rear even as we speak. I'll be down to see you soon, and share that reposado you brought over on New Years. We got them for you and B, but it never seemed like we got them enough. I'm still sorry.