Chief Petty Officer Jason Finan lived in Imperial Beach with his young family. Three days after his death, dozens gathered to pay their respects for a man who gave his life for his country.
“We honor all of our military,” Finan’s close friend and teammate, Angie Hester, told NBC 7. “We’re proud of them.”
It's what brings together neighbors and strangers alike, honoring Finan, a husband and father based in Coronado.
The 34-year-old sailor was serving in Iraq, part of a special unit removing bombs when he was injured and later died from the blast of an improvised explosive device or IED.
“From one warrior to another warrior, I'm just here to pay my respects to him,” retired Master Sgt. Ruben Ortiz, who served in Vietnam, said. “It makes me proud to be here and see the audience, the people here in support in honoring the man who gave his life … That didn't happen when I came back from Vietnam. It was quite the opposite.”
Finan is the fourth U.S. service member killed since U.S. operations against ISIS began more than two years ago, and he's the first U.S. member to die in combat since the launch of a huge operation to retake the ISIS-held city of Mosul.
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The pentagon says our troops mostly serve in supporting or advisory roles, but clearly people like Finan still find themselves on the front lines of danger.
“I've got the highest respect, the highest admiration for him,” Ortiz said. “He was doing his job and willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice.”
