Dignified Transfer 1/12/2010 L/Cpl Mark D. Juarez

Arrival at Aircraft Marine Carry team boards aircraft Dignified transfer officer, senior ranking officer and chaplain board aircraft Chaplain offers prayer for the fallen onboard the aircraft Dignified transfer officer and senior ranking officer depart aircraft

Marine carry team carries transfer case of Lance Corporal Mark David Juarez from back of C-17

Dignified transfer officer orders “Present, Arms” (slow movement salute)

Lance Corporal Mark David Juarez, 23, who grew up in the Beacon Hill area of San Antonio TX, was killed Saturday, January 9, 2010 in Afghanistan. Mark was remembered for always having a smile, having a kind heart and his commitment to family and friends. Lance Corporal Juarez leaves behind his grandmother, parents and brother, and a son who's almost 2-years-old that he never met.

Flores said her 23-year-old grandson always wanted to serve his country. After he graduated from Holy Cross High School he waited a few years to enlist. And even though he had only been a Marine for a little over two years, he told her he couldn't imagine doing anything else.

"Mark David didn't die without a cause. He died serving his country," Flores said. "He loved his job. He was already planning on relisting. He had already decided that."

Sara Ortiz, an aunt of Juarez, still carries the last text message she received from him. Goodbye everyone. I'll write soon. Take care and I'll see everyone when I get back.

Carry team moves transfer case into the mortuary transfer vehicle Dignified transfer officer orders “Order, Arms” (slow movement salute)

Transfer vehicle guide slowly closes the doors to transfer vehicle

Final Steps Mortuary vehicle driver starts engine, and Security Forces vehicle moves into escort position in front Transfer vehicle begins to pull away
Dignified transfer officer orders final “Present, Arms” and “Order, Arms” (slow salute) as vehicle departs

Carry team follows (by walking) transfer vehicle, with the transfer vehicle guide walking behind the carry team
Dignified transfer officer and senior ranking officer follow (walking) behind the transfer vehicle guide, ending the dignified transfer

Dignified Transfer 1/12/2010 L/Cpl Jacob A. Meinert

Marine Carry team boards aircraft
Dignified transfer officer, senior ranking officer and chaplain board aircraft Chaplain offers prayer for the fallen onboard the aircraft
Dignified transfer officer and senior ranking officer depart aircraft

Marine carry team carries transfer case of Lance Corporal Jacob Alexander Meinert from back of C-17

Lance Corporal Jacob Alexander Meinert was killed in action Sunday, January 10, 2010, in Bastion, Afghanistan. “Slim” to his friends is being remembered as a quiet but funny young man who had a passion for jazz band in high school.

Dignified transfer officer orders “Present, Arms” (slow movement salute)

Carry team moves transfer case into the mortuary transfer vehicle Dignified transfer officer orders “Order, Arms” (slow movement salute)

From the time he was a junior in high school, he knew what he wanted to do, and I don’t think he would’ve changed anything. Jacob was very well respected. He was fun to be around, just a good young man, a wonderful person. Jacob was focused on his goals, graduated a semester early to join the Marine Corps. He was an outstanding leader.

Transfer vehicle guide slowly closes the doors to transfer vehicle

Final Steps Mortuary vehicle driver starts engine, and Security Forces vehicle moves into escort position in front Transfer vehicle begins to pull away
Dignified transfer officer orders final “Present, Arms” and “Order, Arms” (slow salute) as vehicle departs