Francisco A. Martinez Flores: Fallen Soldier Missed Citizenship by Months

Summary

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DUARTE - Pfc. Francisco A. Martinez Flores held the key to a long- coveted dream, but he couldn't quite open the door.Just two weeks shy of becoming a U.S. citizen, Martinez Flores, 21, died in Iraq on behalf of his adopted homeland.

Martinez Flores was with two other Marines trained locally Staff Sgt. Donald C. May and Lance Cpl. Patrick T. O'Day who also were killed in action March 25 when their tank plunged off a bridge and overturned into the Euphrates River during a blinding sandstorm.

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Francisco A. Martinez Flores: Fallen Soldier Missed Citizenship by Months

All were members of the 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division from the Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center.

"He loved the United States so much," his mother, Martha Martinez, said in Spanish while sitting in the living roo...

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