Javier Garcia Guzman

Javier Garcia Guzman HART - Staff Sgt. Javier Garcia Guzman, 33, of Hart passed away Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2013, in Bridgeport, Calif. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, 2013, at St. John Catholic Church in Hart with Father Raj (Arockiaraj) Malapady officiating. Interment will follow in Hart Cemetery under the care of Kornerstone Funeral Directors of Plainview. A rosary will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16, 2013, at the funeral home. The family asks that special remarks be said at the conclusion of the rosary. Javier was born March 19, 1980, to Mario and Beatriz Guzman in Plainview. He graduated from Hart High School in 1998. He married Fabiana Fucci on Septe. 19, 2008, in Coronado San Diego, Calif. He enlisted in the Marine Corps after graduating from Hart High School and underwent recruit training at MCRD in San Diego, Calif. Upon completion of recruit training, Staff Sgt. Guzman was assigned to the Marine Corps Communications Electronics School and graduated as a field radio operator. His first fleet tour of duty was with 7th Communications Battalion, Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, in 1999. Shortly after his arrival in Okinawa, Staff Sgt. Guzman was transferred to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit where he completed several Asia Pacific deployments. In 2000, Staff Sgt. Guzman was assigned to Communications Company, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, Calif. After two more years of service as a field radio operator, Staff Sgt. Guzman was released from active duty with an honorable discharge on July 12, 2002. Staff Sgt. Guzman made the decision to continue his service to country and corps in 2003. He resumed his active service with 9th Communications Battalion, Camp Pendleton. While with 9th Communications Battalion, Staff Sgt. Guzman completed a combat deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. After serving with 9th Communications Battalion, Staff Sgt. Guzman transferred to 3rd Battalion, 10th Marines at Camp Lejeune, N.C. From 2009 to 2013, he completed several combat deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, both with 3rd Battalion, 10th Marines and embedded training teams. Javier Guzman was promoted to staff sergeant in 2012. In 2013, Staff Sgt. Guzman reported to the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, Calif., to serve as the electronic key management system custodian, spectrum manager, and installation radio chief. Staff Sgt. Guzman's personal awards include three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals and a Combat Action Ribbon. He was always the comedian, always making everyone laugh. He was loving and caring and would help anyone in need. He enjoyed barbecuing, working out, running and road trips. He loved being with his children, playing and laughing, and especially humming nursery rhymes to them. He is survived by his wife Fabiana Guzman; three sons, Issak Anthony of Dallas, Santiago Alessio and Benicio Jose Guzman, both of Bridgeport, Calif.; his parents, Mario and Beatriz Guzman of Hart; one brother, Mario Garcia Guzman of Clark, S.D.; Claudia Guzman Dominguez, Rebecca Garcia Guzman and Christine Guzman Rocha; and his grandparents, Jose and Hermalinda Guzman of Hart, and Virginia Garcia of Uvalde, Texas; he is also survived by many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. He is preceded in death by his grandfather, Gilberto Navarro Garcia. Online condolences may be made at www.kornerstonefunerals.com.