But Serrano's mother, Marta Concepcion, said she doubted anything positive was coming out of the war, "only deaths." Her son, she said, "called me and said the Iraqi people did not want U.S. soldiers there."Manati, Puerto Rico
Juan Manual Serrano's father - who has the same name and Army rank as his sergeant son - doesn't regret that his son joined the U.S. military.
"It was a good decision by him and all the other young people who put on this uniform," the elder Serrano said as the son was buried at the Puerto Rico National Cemetery.
But Serrano's mother, Marta Concepcion, said she doubted anything positive was coming out of the war, "only deaths." Her son, she said, "called me and said the Iraqi people did not want U.S. soldiers there."
Serrano, 31, of Manati, Puerto Rico, was changing a tire on a military Humvee July 24, 2003, in Iraq when the vehicle fell, striking his head and killing him.
Serrano's wife, Evelyn, said she would allow their two sons - ages 3 and 8 months - to decide whether they want to follow in their father's footsteps and join the military.
"I am proud to say he died there...that he was doing something, and did not die in vain," she said.