IB Tattoo Parlor Holds Fundraiser for Local Fallen Sailor

Chief Petty Officer Jason Finan, 34, was killed in an improvised explosive device (IED) attack near Ba'shiqah, Iraq

The Flesh Skin Grafix Tattoo parlor in Imperial Beach held the “Tiny Tats” fundraiser Saturday with all proceeds going to the family of fallen sailor Jason Finan.

Finan lived in Imperial Beach with his wife and seven-year-old son.

"Just the fact that it is a tattoo fundraiser - that's going to be something on us to help remember that solider for the rest of our lives," Jill Kearnes, who got a tattoo, says. "What a way to pay respect to somebody who gave his all for us. It's the least we could do." 

The chief petty officer was killed in combat on October 20 in the early days of the Mosul offensive, and was the first U.S. service member to die in combat since the launch of the operation to free the city from ISIS.

His body was returned to San Diego and a memorial service was held last week.

"Donating to a fundraiser for a fallen soldier's family means the world to me because of the fact that they didn't wanna be in this situation, it happened,” Donnis Wright, who got a tattoo, tells NBC 7.

The fundraiser goes until midnight Saturday. The tattoo parlor is in the 1100 block of Palm Avenue in Imperial Beach.

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