https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/california-based/andrew-velez/ The latest user comments on Andrew Velez en-us https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/douglas-jose-marenco-reyes/#c182792 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/douglas-jose-marenco-reyes/#c182792 "Douggy" dear old friend I still think and miss you much. I still recall our long talks about going to the P.I. and showing you a great time with the babes there. However, Our Lord Jesus Christ had better plans for you in His Kingdom. Thank you for having been a great friend There are so few like you. Rest in God's loving hands. Your friend, Sam Sat, 02 Jan 2016 04:11:14 -0800 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/douglas-jose-marenco-reyes/#c156861 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/douglas-jose-marenco-reyes/#c156861 Corporal Douglas "Desert Doug" Marenco Reyes was the first Marine to congratulate me when I received news of my son Roman Riley Rodriguez birth. It was the first week of May 2003, it was hot and I was pissed not to be there when my son was born. I remember hanging up the SAT phone with tears in my eyes. As I walked away from the company tent Corporal Marenco was the first Marine to stop and asked why I was upset. When I told him about my son, he replied "Why are you mad for? You should be happy because now you have a reason to get your ass home alive." I still remember how he completely changed my attitude. He is a great man and I haven't really told this story to anyone, but his legacy should be remembered. I owe my life to him because of his advice. Rest in peace my brother and Semper Fi. You and your family are always in my prayers. Sun, 25 May 2014 05:53:01 -0700 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/douglas-jose-marenco-reyes/#c156807 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/douglas-jose-marenco-reyes/#c156807 I will always remember my brother Corporal Douglas "Desert Doug" Marenco-Reyes. I remember the morning he passed. He told me he was going on a convoy to give water to a village. I told him to be safe and I would see him when they got back. When I heard the broadcast come over the net about a vehicle rollover I got worried, I did not know who or what vehicle. We were in route to the site. It took over 15 minutes to get there and as we approached the site from about 4 miles away, I could see the black cloud of smoke in the sky coming from what I came to recognize as the LVS 17, (Logistics Vehicle System). The only two Marines I knew who left Dog Town that day were Cpl Marenco and LCpl Rosales. I started to pray that nothing bad happened to them but I knew that they were working on both Marines as we traveled towards them. When we arrived at the scene I found LCpl Chang the A-Driver being worked on but he showed signs of being alive. I noticed the Corpsmen working on Douglas and everything was quiet. Everyone around him was pulling for him to come back. We even broke out the cammie netting to provide shade for the Marines and the Corpsmen providing CPR. They wouldn't stop trying until 40 minutes passed and the called it. This whole time we waited for the MEDEVAC choppers to touch down. When I saw the bird fly over I threw out my red smoke grenade and we buttoned up my brother in two ponchos. I remember putting him on the stretcher and myself, SgtMag Joe Sandoval, SSgt Cesar Huezo and a Navy Corpsman taking him to the bird. The other Marines picked up Chang and brought him around the other side of the bird. When the Black Hawk chopper Crew Chief rolled the door open, he asked what me brothers name was,I couldn't quite hear him so I grabbed him by his harness and pulled him toward me as he asked what my brothers name again. I told him "Douglas Marenco, Corporal, USMC and his information is on his arm and tag". He buckled the safety belts and we back up as the hello dusted off it all became black and white, even the red smoke bellowing through the rotor wash. I knew then that this was the last time I would ever see my brother again. I walked back through the road and noticed all the skid marks on the road and then it hit me. The adrenaline wore off and I began to cry for my brother. Sgt Maj Sandoval came over to me and we talked for a few minutes. All I could think of was his family back home. I was able to bring some peace to questions that troubled his father for sometime after the loss of his son. I hope it brought some closure to your thoughts Mr. Marenco. We all miss you Doug.... Thanks for looking down and keeping us safe. Happy Memorial Day..... Gunnery Sergeant Martin Lopez Sun, 25 May 2014 04:32:52 -0700 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/douglas-jose-marenco-reyes/#c153695 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/douglas-jose-marenco-reyes/#c153695 CPL. Brian Passow: Just read your message of 6-26-13. I would like to thank you for what you did for Cpl. Reyes. I know you wish you could have done more but you were there and you were with him. God bless you. And always remembering those who gave all. Mon, 12 May 2014 05:57:49 -0700 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/douglas-jose-marenco-reyes/#c137095 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/douglas-jose-marenco-reyes/#c137095 This young man you see up above is my older brother and yes he was and continues to be the best even after his passing. @ Cpl. Brian Passow thank you for sharing your story and doing all that you could in efforts to trying to save him me & my family are thankful that he wasn't left to die alone' thank you for being there his last minutes' may God bless you & your family and that other officer who helped him as well. Much love & respect on behalf of The Marenco Family. Let me know if you have a fb' or how to contact you if possible. Thu, 07 Nov 2013 07:34:17 -0800 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/douglas-jose-marenco-reyes/#c137050 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/douglas-jose-marenco-reyes/#c137050 I Remember him being so Chill and always in good spirits Douglas and my brother Rick were really close almost like brothers..When I heard about his passing I was living in Colorado I was shock and couldn't believe it..He will always be remember by me always Miss you Doug R.I.P Wed, 06 Nov 2013 07:40:33 -0800 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/douglas-jose-marenco-reyes/#c123383 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/douglas-jose-marenco-reyes/#c123383 I was there that day. It was a God forsaken deserted stretch of road. The vehicle I was in stopped about 200 yds from the site to provide cover and to avoid the bullets that were cooking off and flying from the burning overturned truck. I remember telling the Marine doing compressions to pick up the pace with CPR and he turned around and it was the SgtMajor himself, I knew he was a CHP officer in civilian life, but I being civilian EMS he did exactly what I asked. We did everything we could with what equipment and supplies we had, after exhausting all our options, we stopped and circled around him and prayed......We were able to save the second person in the vehicle (don't remember his name, Chang maybe?), got him and Marenco loaded in the med-evac helo and then put out the fire on the truck and sat on it till recovery vehicles arrived. I'm sorry we couldn't do more, we really tried... Wed, 26 Jun 2013 01:44:53 -0700 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/douglas-jose-marenco-reyes/#c50771 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/douglas-jose-marenco-reyes/#c50771 It's been almost 9 years since I was a green Marine straight out of MCRD SD, assigned to 4th LAR. I remember my first day with the Battalion, and I remember having the feeling of anxiety and uncertainty as I walked through the parking lot, heading straight into the motor pool where all my soon-to-be friends and brothers in blood were working. I knew no one. What to expect? No Idea! I JUST finished checking in. Time to meet my section (platoon). I met Gunny Davis who then proceeded to introduced me to everyone there. Guys came forward, shook my hand, and told me how things operated. As our section was carrying out the plan of the day, I walked out to the 5-ton line like I was told, to help out the Marines over there PM the vehicles. I had no idea what to expect since I did not go to MOS School yet, (I was a 92-day reservist. Sue me). Walking over the line on that beautiful sunny day in Camp Pendleton, I approach the man in charge: Corporal Marenco. He knew I was a newjoin, and he gave me the best welcome to the 5-ton line any new Marine can receive; being remembered just after one introduction, a welcome smile, and clear orders for the plan of the day. My unit returned in September 2003, and I was given a phone call from a buddy informing me that Marenco was killed. I barely got to know him, but remembered him as my first mentor in my unit. I was saddened. Grief, frustration, sadness, and confusion struck me all at once. Confusion as to why such a good Marine had to be taken away that day by the hands of God. Why his family was to be left behind. He will always be remembered by everyone who knew him. A good Marine who's in a better place right now. Semper Fi, buddy Mon, 02 May 2011 12:29:08 -0700 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/douglas-jose-marenco-reyes/#c41135 https://projects.latimes.com/wardead/name/douglas-jose-marenco-reyes/#c41135 I remember seeing him in dog town for those of us who know where that was. We walked pass each other and he had the biggest smile i said to him why so he said dude we in freaken I raq can you believe it and said to can you believe crazy huh. I remember feeling better about being over there and that was the last time I saw him. Breaks my heart he was great man. Live the Corp We miss you miss buddy. Thu, 11 Nov 2010 06:40:01 -0800