Army Specialist Peter J. Navarro

Remember Our Heroes

Army Specialist Peter J. Navarro, 20, of Wildwood, Mo.

Spc Navarro was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 70th Armor, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, Fort Riley, Kan.; killed Dec. 13 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee while conducting combat operations in Taji, Iraq.

KSDK-Loved ones gathered to say goodbye to Army Specialist Peter Navarro, a 20 year old man from Ballwin who was killed in Iraq.

Specialist Navarro was killed by a roadside bomb just one month before the scheduled end of his deployment in Iraq. He had been home earlier this year, and told his parents he had to go back to Iraq because the people in his unit needed him.

For his parents, it was the second time in 6 months they buried a son.

Peter's younger brother, Daniel, was killed in a car accident earlier this year.

Peter Navarro was one of four soldiers killed when a roadside bomb exploded. His father, Jose Navarro, said, "In our last conversation he told us, 'Don't send any mail because on December 20th, we won't be getting anymore mail for our unit.' They were getting ready to head back."

On December 23rd, people lined the streets to say goodbye to Specialist Navarro as the funeral procession passed by. Those in the procession likely saw people they never met standing along the road to say goodbye. Some were waving flags in support, and some were veterans saying goodbye to a soldier they never met. Those in the procession also likely saw a group protesting the military. Click here to read about the protestors.

After learning of their son's death, Jose Navarro said, "He died because he was trying to make a difference, and being a soldier was what was making a difference in this time of life." Jose Navarro was also in the military. He spent 23 years as a Navy Medic.

Peter joined the Army right after graduation from Lafayette High School in 2003, forgoing his acceptance at Truman State.

The Navarros have another son, Kevin, who is 14 years old.

Army Specialist Peter J. Navarro was killed in action on 12/13/05.