Army Pfc. Kristian Menchaca 23, of San Marcos, Texas; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.; died on or about June 16 from injuries sustained in the vicinity of Baghdad. He was previously listed as Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown. His unit came under enemy small-arms fire while manning a checkpoint during combat operations and was taken by enemy forces. This incident is under investigation. Also killed were Spc. David J. Babineau and Pfc. Thomas L. Tucker.
“Hundreds Turn Out for Arrival of Pfc. Kristian Menchaca”
BROWNSVILLE -- The body of Army Pfc. Kristian Menchaca, 23, arrived at the Brownsville airport Monday, June 27th in a solemn ceremony broken only by the sobs of his young widow.
Eighteen-year-old Christina Menchaca of Big Spring, Texas, received her husband’s body shortly after noon, surrounded by family, her little boy, and the Rev. Carlos Villarreal.
They watched as 11 members of the 101st Screaming Eagles Military Funeral Detachment team provided full honors as they carried the varnished brown coffin from a chartered Falcon jet to a waiting hearse.
The coffin was draped with an American flag.
"He was a young man who had dreams and hopes and they just vanished," U.S. Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz said after watching the arrival of Menchaca’s body with local officials who showed their respect at the Brownsville-South Padre Island International Airport.
"He deserves a hero’s burial," Ortiz, D-Corpus Christi, said.
While in Brownsville in the mid- to late 1990s, Menchaca attended Porter High School and Vela Middle School, which is no more than a mile north of the Brownsville Event Center – where his visitation will be held today.
For the last week, the flags — of the United States, Texas, and Mexico — that line Ruben M. Torres Boulevard have all flown at half-staff. They’ve been accompanied by banners and tickers reading "in honor of Pfc. Kristian Menchaca."
On Monday, when Menchaca’s body was returned to Brownsville, hundreds more flags appeared on the boulevard.
In addition to the police procession that accompanied Menchaca’s hearse, hundreds of Brownsville residents, some noticeably weeping, drove slowly to the city’s events center. From city officials to "Los Escondidos," a biker group, every member of the procession carried his own American flag.
"By coming here I am showing my respect," said Frank Garza, a former soldier. Even though he doesn’t know Menchaca’s family, Garza’s nephew, who is currently assigned to Border Patrol duty, will be driving in from Arizona for the funeral.
Like Garza, Adelaida Rey showed her support by waving a small flag from the side of the road. She brought her grandchildren along to share the experience.
"El estaba peleando por nuestro freedom, y por eso estamos aqui," she said. "He was fighting for our freedom and because of that we are here."
Although Rey speaks only Spanish, she carefully pronounces the word "freedom" in English. For the woman waving both Texas and American flags, it’s a word too important to be translated.
While the procession drove by, Rey’s grandchildren were as solemn as she was. "Es importante que lo vean," she said. "It’s important that they see this."
Under a blue sky with foreboding rain clouds on the horizon, stood Henry Valdez, sweating from the 90-plus degree humidity.
He stood far from the small crowds of people that dotted Paredes Line Road up to the event center, the motorcade’s final destination.
"I came to pay my respects," the former U.S. Marine said.
"So young, man. So young," he said with a sigh.
"So young."
Menchaca will be buried in uniform and with several medals: America’s Meritorious Service Medal, a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star and a Prisoner of War medal.
"He earned them, he goes down with them," Ortiz said.
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