Marine Lance Cpl. Hugo R. Lopezlopez

Remember Our Heroes

Marine Lance Cpl. Hugo R. Lopezlopez, 20, of La Habra, California

Lance Cpl. Lopezlopez died Jan. 27 at Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, from wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Rawah, Iraq on Nov. 20, 2005. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, his unit was attached to 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, (Forward).

By Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell Staff Writer LA HABRA -

Before he left for Iraq in September, Marine Lance Cpl. Hugo Lopezlopez told his mother he would buy her a new house when he returned.

The former La Habra High School football player never got the chance to fulfill the promise.

He died Friday at a Texas military hospital, where his mother, Maria, had maintained a vigil at his bedside ever since the 20-year-old Marine was critically wounded by a homemade bomb in November.

"We were all devastated to hear the news," said City Councilman James Gomez of La Habra, where officials ordered flags flown at half-staff at City Hall and the local community center through Friday.

"We had been hoping and praying for a miracle because he is one of our own," Gomez added.

Lopezlopez attended Washington Middle School in La Habra, then La Habra High, where he played football on the school's 2003 CIF championship team. He enlisted in the Marines after graduating in 2004.

He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1 Marine Expeditionary Force out of Camp Pendleton, Marine officials said.

During Operation Iraqi Freedom, his unit was attached to 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force.

On Nov. 20, while covering combat operations against enemy forces in Rawah, Iraq, the decorated Marine was critically injured by an improvised explosive device, military officials said.

On Tuesday, his family said the young Marine suffered burns over most of his body. He underwent burn surgery but died Friday at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.

Throughout his hospital stay, his mother was at his side, family members said.

Before he left for Iraq, Lopezlopez had celebrated his 20th birthday at his family's La Habra home with his mother, his father Fidencio, his 12-year-old brother Oscar, his 6-year-old sister Valerie and several friends, his relatives said.

Today, students and faculty at La Habra High will hold a moment of silence in his honor, said John Diaz, the school's guidance technician.

A memorial service will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday at the La Habra Community Center, followed by a rosary service at 7:30 p.m.

A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Angela Merici Church in Brea. He will be buried at Memory Garden Memorial Park in Brea, his family said.

During his military career, had earned the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal, military officials said.

Marine Lance Cpl. Hugo R. Lopezlopez was killed in action on 01/27/06.