Jason Franco laid to rest

Pfc. Jason Franco loved wearing his camos.

He'd always be the last in his group to take them off at night, said Pfc. Brandon Croniser, as he eulogized the Marine who died Oct. 31. It was one of several stories his fellow Marines shared with the others attending Franco's funeral at Crossroads Church in Corona on Monday.

"He always said it was the most comfortable thing you can wear," said Croniser, whom Franco called "Crono."

Once, Croniser and Franco ate at Taco Bell, where Franco decided his buddy needed to taste real Mexican food, so he brought him home. Franco loved his mother's enchiladas and lasagna, Croniser said.

"I know he's having a better time than me just to show me up," Croniser said.

Pfc. Daniel Batt remembered how he missed Mexican food while they were in training in Mississippi. When Franco found out, he bought chorizo and tortillas and started cooking, Batt recounted.

Other Marines recalled playing Xbox with Franco and always calling him by his last name, the military way.

Before the funeral service, a photo montage with music reflected Franco's life -- from a his mother, Guadalupe, pregnant with her first born, to the Marine in uniform. The images also included Jason Franco as a toddler in a mini uniform, with his Marine father in a real uniform; prom pictures; and Jason Franco in his camos with his mother. Text on the overhead screens read, "See you in the stars," the last words he said to his 12-year-old sister, Kuuielani.

"He'll be missed, he'll be talked about, and he'll be remembered," Pastor Brian Dunn said of the 18-year-old Franco, who had participated in Crossroad Church's youth group.

Many at the funeral service wore uniforms -- from military personnel to postal workers who know Jason Franco's father, Genaro, a postal employee and retired Marine. Corey Allen met Genaro Franco about 10 years ago and said Jason wanted to be just like his father.

Genaro Franco recently battled cancer and thanked the audience for attending.

"It's only a loss when you don't know where something is," Allen told the audience. "But we known where Jason is."

Jason Franco was assigned to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 11, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, based at Miramar Marine Corps Air Station. He died from a gunshot wound on Oct. 31 in Al Anbar province in Iraq, according to the defense department.

Franco had been in Iraq less than a month and had volunteered to go earlier than the rest of his unit. He was the seventh Inland man killed in Iraq during October.

On Monday, the defense department also announced the death of San Bernardino resident Army Pfc. Alex Oceguera, 19, who died Oct. 31 in Wygal Valley, Afghanistan, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.

The Patriot Guard Riders led the funeral procession and then held flags as six Marines carried the flag-draped casket during the military honors at Riverside National Cemetery.

After a three-round volley, a Marine played taps. Wearing white gloves, the six Marines precisely folded the flag and handed it to Guadalupe Franco, as she wept.

From the Press Enterprise

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