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Adam A. Galvez

   
Individuals US

Desert News -- Marine Cpl. Adam A. Galvez, 21, was one month from coming home to his parents in Salt Lake City when he was killed by a roadside bomb Aug. 20 while on combat operations in Iraq's deadliest province, Anbar.

  Galvez and Marine Lance Cpl. Randy L. Newman, 21, of Bend, Ore., were killed near the town of Rawah when a vehicle they were riding in rolled over a pressure-sensitive explosive device. Navy seaman Chadwick T. Kenyon, 20, of Tucson, Ariz, was also killed in the explosion.

  "If he had been in the driver's seat, he would have been spared," Tony Galvez said about his son. "He almost made it." Adam Galvez, described by his parents as a great mechanic with a huge heart, became the 17th Utah soldier to die in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion began in March 2003. Funeral services for Galvez are being planned for around Tuesday of next week at Calvary Chapel in Salt Lake City.

Since the war began, at least 2,612 members of the U.S. military have died in Iraq, and almost 20,000 have been wounded, according to the Department of Defense.



Last month, Galvez was wounded when a suicide bomber detonated a device just outside of a building where several Marines were resting. The building collapsed and Galvez had to dig himself out from under the rubble, his father said.

  Unable to locate his weapon amid the debris, Galvez found a shovel and began digging for other trapped Marines as gunfire went on around him. It's not clear what the extent of his injuries were, but Tony Galvez said his son was able to walk away with a limp.

   "He believed in what he was doing," Tony Galvez said. "He was a true Marine, a true patriot."

   Adam Galvez loved to play baseball and go snowboarding at Brighton Ski Resort. He attended West High School and graduated from Horizonte Instruction and Training Center in Salt Lake City.

   His mother, Amy Galvez, said her son was never afraid to hug his parents or tell them, "I love you," even in front of his classmates.

   "He was never embarrassed in front of his friends," she said. Â

  In the Marines, Galvez was making his mark as a mechanic while assigned to the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, in Twentynine Palms, Calif.

   At his home on Salt Lake's west side, the black Mitsubishi Eclipse that he bought from the junk yard still sat in the driveway Tuesday, waiting to be fixed. A few feet away from the car, an American flag and a Marine Corps flag flew at half staff.

   Two years ago, when Galvez and his best friend, Lance Cpl. Robert Clark, graduated from boot camp, Galvez raised the first flag up a pole his father installed in the front yard. "And it's been flying every day," Tony Galvez said.

 On Tuesday, Clark's brother, Nick Clark, stopped by to hug the parents of Galvez, whom he described as a "little brother." The plan is for Robert Clark to escort Galvez's body from Maryland to Utah this weekend.

   Galvez leaves behind his parents, a brother and a sister. He also had a girlfriend in California.

   While in Iraq, Galvez called his family every week.

   "He kept us in his life," Amy Galvez said. "I feel very honored, because a lot of parents don't have that."

   Since they were notified Sunday of their son's death, both parents have gone through periods of denial and disbelief, then grief and even anger, particularly over people who protest the war.

 Both mother and father singled out Cindy Sheehan, who also lost a son to the war, and Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson. Anderson invited Sheehan here to help him hold a protest during next week's 88th annual National Convention of the American Legion, expected to draw 12,000 people to Salt Lake City. President Bush is also scheduled to speak to veterans during the convention.

   "You either support the war, or you don't support the troops," Tony Galvez said.

   Amy Galvez said the words of protest offered by Sheehan and Anderson are a "plague" on U.S. troops. She admitted that war is not "nice," but added that she believes it is necessary. Amy Galvez said she hopes people will turn out for a separate planned rally next week to support the troops.

   Tony and Amy Galvez said they will continue to support Marines through a project they helped start called, "Cool Marines."

   The project started when they sent their son a care package that included a kind of necktie and a cap, each of which has special "crystals" woven in to help keep the wearer cool when the fabric is wet. More Marines wanted the product, and now there is a Web site, www.coolmarines.net, with more information on how people can get involved.

   "We're going to do this," Amy Galvez said. "We want to support the Marines."
 

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The Right State » Blog Archive » Highlights of President Bush’s Speech at the American Legion
Tracked on Thursday, August 31 2006 @ 10:35 AM EDT

Viva La Blog »
Tracked on Thursday, August 31 2006 @ 11:00 AM EDT

Adam A. Galvez | 10 comments | Create New Account
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Adam A. Galvez
Authored by: anonymous on Wednesday, August 23 2006 @ 05:35 AM EDT
To the Galvez family from the Wahl family. Our heart and prays are with ADAM and your family. Our Gregory is with Adam and all our fallen soldiers. Adam has not died in VAIN! He is an AMERICAN HERO! Obviously, to his family and those that knew ADAM he was so much more! He is remembered today and all the tomorrow's. I wish I could attend Adam's service. I will be in new York attending service;s for two other Marine's. I will as I always do attend my church. I will lite a candle for Gregory's brother in arms ADAM! Be strong supportive toward one another. Adam would not want anyone to be sad or unhappy. As you honor your son, HERO He is resting now with his brothers and sister's. Yet, he is close by in your hearts. father of fallen soldier US Army SGT. Gregory L. Wahl KIA Balad, Iraq 05-03-04.
  • Adam A. Galvez - Authored by: anonymous on Thursday, August 24 2006 @ 11:40 PM EDT
Adam A. Galvez
Authored by: anonymous on Saturday, August 26 2006 @ 08:35 PM EDT
Adam,
I would like to say thank you to you and the other two men who were killed in that blast for your service and sacrifice for our Country. And to your family, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

Semper Fi Devil Dog!
Adam A. Galvez
Authored by: anonymous on Tuesday, August 29 2006 @ 11:45 PM EDT
As a friend of the LCPL Randy Newman Family of Bend, Oregon... our country lost three souls that day Adam, Randy and the Navy Corpman Chadwick Kenyon... the family will be burying Randy tomarrow at the National Cemetary in Portland, Oregon. The town came out to support the family today at a memorial service with a turn out of over 2,000 people. We were all so blessed to have these THREE HEROS in our lives.... they are God's Warriors!! God Bless all three families and their friends.
Adam A. Galvez
Authored by: anonymous on Thursday, August 31 2006 @ 05:29 PM EDT
My heart is touched by the parents of this young man and their strength. I am so proud to call myself the mother of a US Marine. I am also the proud mother of a US Airman. There are so many young men and women and their families that put their beliefs, convictions, and their lives on the line and sacrifice all for this great country. My heart hurts and my prayers are with each family that loses a life to something as horrible as war. But I am grateful that there are people like the Galvez's who choose to stand and honor their sons life with courage and integrity instead of bitterness. My sons have told me that the reason they are doing what they are doing is because they owe so much to a country they love. God bless America and God bless families like the Galvez's.
Adam A. Galvez
Authored by: anonymous on Tuesday, September 05 2006 @ 09:49 PM EDT
Our 2nd anniversary to our son death is tomorrow, all I can say is this....This will be with you forever, it will make you cry everyday, and you will always cause you great sadness when people ask you how were your holiday? Life goes on for them. They do not every realize that your loss will burn in your heart and mind forever.
You will miss him everyday, but stand tall. What he believed in and the price he paid for living it needs you to remember. Be proud no matter how sad you may be. Your son is a fine man. He now belongs to the elite group of all those who give all for others. Share him with someone everyday to keep his bright spirit alive. Then he will always be remembered by those who may not even have met him. His life is worth it. Do not let others take that away from him, or your family. Rhonda McCarthy PMM Cpl Joe McCarthy KIA 9/4/04
Adam A. Galvez
Authored by: anonymous on Sunday, September 10 2006 @ 07:26 PM EDT
Adam was my cousin and now he is my hero. I regret with all my heart not getting to know him better. I wish I had the memories, sadly, I don't. I will always miss you and look up to you forever. To my Aunt Amy, Uncle Tony, Sarah and Travis, I am so proud to call you family.

All my love,
Ashley
Adam A. Galvez
Authored by: anonymous on Friday, September 15 2006 @ 05:12 PM EDT
Im sorry for your loss. I was the driver of the LAV and not a day goes by that i dont think about that day.If CPL Galvez was driving he would have had minor wounds, just 2nd and 3rd degree burns to his face and hands. i really am sorry.

LCPL Carter
Adam A. Galvez
Authored by: anonymous on Wednesday, May 23 2007 @ 03:48 AM EDT
My Name is Adam Galvez, Our lives were in no way similar but we share a name, I am so sorry to here you lost you're son in the war, I am proud to have the name of a Hero. I am currently getting ready to goto school to study Broadcast Journalism. I hope to have our name on tv someday, making a difference in our confused world. God Bless You Galvez Family.
Adam A. Galvez
Authored by: anonymous on Sunday, June 17 2007 @ 06:07 PM EDT
I was one of Adam's best friends in high school. He was such a good person. Adam we love and miss you. I stopped by your parents house to offer my condolances. They named 3rd south after you in glendale.
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