Marine Sgt. James R. Tijerina

Remember Our Heroes

Marine Sgt. James R. Tijerina, 26, of Beasley, Texas

Sgt. Tijerina was assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; died Feb. 7 when the helicopter he was flying in crashed while supporting combat operations in Anbar province, Iraq. Also killed were 1st Lt. Jared M. Landaker, Sgt. Travis D. Pfister, Cpl. Thomas E. Saba, Capt. Jennifer J. Harris, Navy Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Gilbert Minjares Jr. and Navy Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Manuel A. Ruiz.

Katy Marine Dies In Copter Crash Weeks Before Return From Iraq
Feb. 11, 2007 By ANITA HASSAN, Houston Chronicle

A Marine from Katy died in a helicopter crash in Iraq on Wednesday.

Sgt. James Rodney Tijerina, 26, crew chief on a medical evacuation helicopter, died when his CH-46 Sea Knight caught fire, spun out of control and crashed. The fire was caused by a mechanical failure, military officials told his father, Peter Tijerina, when they came to his home to deliver the news of his son's death on Wednesday.

"I saw two Marines drive up and park," he said. "And I knew they were coming to see me. I knew they were looking for me."

Peter Tijerina said he told the two staff sergeants he wanted few details of the crash that killed his son and six others aboard the helicopter.

"I don't want to know how he died or how he suffered," he said.

James Tijerina was scheduled to return home to his station at Camp Pendleton in San Diego on March 20.

"He had no fear at all," said Peter Tijerina as he described his last conversation with his son in mid-January. "But he was tired and homesick."

James Tijerina decided to join the Marines in 2002 before the war in Iraq began.

"He told me, 'That's what I want to do, Dad,' " Peter Tijerina said. "'I want to go and fight.'"

His father said Tijerina was very proud to be a Marine. As a crew chief, he helped pick up wounded troops and take them to safety.

"He was always expressing that he felt good about doing something good for all those people," he said.

This was James Tijerina's second tour in Iraq, his father said. The first time he was sent to Baghdad was only a year after he joined.

"He wanted to make a career out of it," Peter Tijerina said, adding that his son had enlisted for another five years.

Not only had James Tijerina found a career in the Marines, but it also enabled him to meet the woman who would become his wife, Clowie. His father said the two met after James was stationed at Camp Pendleton in San Diego.

"When he met her, he called to tell me he found his soul mate," Peter Tijerina said.

The couple married last summer shortly before Tijerina left for Iraq. Peter Tijerina said they had planned to have a bigger ceremony in June after his son came home from his tour.

"He had plans," he said. "Man, he had plans like crazy."

Graduating from Katy High School in 1997, Tijerina was part of the football team that won a state championship his senior year.

Last Christmas Eve, he ran in a 5-K race at Camp Taqaddum with 250 other troops where he won first place with a time of 18 minutes and 46 seconds.

"He was an athlete, but he also had a big heart," Peter Tijerina said.

His father described James Tijerina as a softspoken and caring man who loved the outdoors. His real passion, however, was for animals.

"It was a real nightmare in the house when the snakes got loose," he said, chuckling.

He remembered Tijerina finding wounded animals on the street and trying to nurse them back to health. "He had such a soft spot for animals," Peter Tijerina said. "Even the mean dogs he could handle because they could sense it."

Peter Tijerina said that he and his son were very close.

In addition to his father and wife, James Tijerina is survived by his mother, Lilia Carr, his sister, Lynn Ann and brother, Peter Tijerina II.

Marine Sgt. James R. Tijerina was killed in action 02/07/07