Base mourns “Aztec Warrior” Marine

Staff Sgt. Brian P. Monroe, who served with Lance Cpl. Jesus A. Suarez del Solar, consoles Sayne Suarez del Solar during a memorial service held April 25 at Camp Pendleton’s Marine Memorial Chapel. Suarez del Solar leaves behind his wife, Sayne, and son, Erik Jay, 2, pictured here. Suarez del Solar, an infantry rifleman assigned to D Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance, 1st Marine Division, was killed in action March 30 in Iraq. An estimated 100 people turned out for the service. Photo by Cpl. Jose L. Garcia.

Mexico native posthumously awarded citizenship

Lance Cpl. Matthew S. Richards, News Editor

CAMP PENDLETON - A native of Mexico who migrated with his family to the U.S. for the chance to become an “Aztec Warrior” Marine was remembered today at Camp Pendleton’s Marine Memorial Chapel by over 100 mourners.

Maria Lopez, a friend of the family of Lance Cpl. Jesus A. Suarez del Solar, pictured here in the middle consoles Suarez del Solar's parents, Fernando and Rosa, after a memorial service held April 25 at Camp Pendleton’s Marine Memorial Chapel. Fernando migrated from Tijuana to fulfill his son's biggest dream in life, which was to become a U.S. Marine. Suarez del Solar, an infantry rifleman assigned to D Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance, 1st Marine Division, was killed in action March 30 in Iraq. An estimated 100 people turned out for the service. Photo by Cpl. Jose L. Garcia.

Jesus A. Suarez del Solar, 20, an infantry rifleman assigned to D Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, was killed in action March 30 in Iraq while fulfilling his dream to be a warrior.

“He was proud to be a Marine, but he wanted to be remembered as an Aztec Warrior Marine,” Fernando Suarez del Solar, his father. “Upon graduating bootcamp he went to Tijuana and bought a small shrine of an Aztec warrior and said ‘father this is me.’”

Suarez del Solar entered the Marine Corps in July of 2001.

That was his dream, according to his father.

Sergio J. Navarro, 18, a cousin of Lance Cpl. Jesus A. Suarez del Solar, wears a shirt during a memorial service April 25 at Camp Pendleton’s Marine Memorial Chapel with Suarez del Solar’s picture in memory of him. Suarez del Solar, an infantry rifleman assigned to D Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance, 1st Marine Division, was killed in action March 30 in Iraq. Photo by Lance Cpl. Matthew S. Richards.

“The only reason we came over was because of him. It started at the age of 10. He had everything he wanted down there except the option of being a Marine,” said his father.

In a mostly silent crowd, a small child’s wails gave voice to the soft tears that streaked the faces of many mourners.

Suarez del Solar made an impact on his fellow Marines as well.

“Even though he was young, he had what I called an old soul,” said Sgt. Troy D. Dearson, Suarez del Solar’s platoon sergeant with D Co., 1st LAR. “He was very mature for his age.”

At the conclusion of the eulogies, the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services presented Suarez del Solar’s wife with a certificate authenticating his citizenship.

At the conclusion of a memorial service held April 25 at Camp Pendleton’s Marine Memorial Chapel for Lance Cpl. Jesus A. Suarez del Solar, a plaque is presented to his wife, Sayne Suarez del Solar, which symbolizes his posthumous citizenship. Suarez del Solar, an infantry rifleman assigned to D Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance, 1st Marine Division, was killed in action March 30 in Iraq. An estimated 100 people turned out for the service. Photo by Lance Cpl. Matthew S. Richards.

Suarez del Solar was not the first to receive such an honor, since President George W. Bush announced that anyone who serves in the military one day past Sept. 11, 2001 may be awarded his or her citizenship through an accelerated process.