Manzanola – This country town shut down Tuesday afternoon and its population of 459 residents more than doubled as 1,000 mourners came to pay their respects to Justin Vasquez, 26, an Army staff sergeant killed June 5 in Baghdad by a roadside bomb.
All businesses in the community 41 miles east of Pueblo closed an hour before the 2 p.m. funeral so owners and employees could attend.
Flags and bunting – hung out at dawn by Vasquez’s high school buddies – lined both sides of First Street, the main drag.
Mourners parked for several blocks around Manzanola High School, where the service was held and where Vasquez graduated in 1997. He joined the Army three months later.
The crowd that turned out to honor the native son of the Arkansas Valley was “more people than Manzanola’s ever seen,” according to a woman handing out programs in front of the school gymnasium.
Inside, the gym floor held dozens of neat rows of folding chairs. Bleachers on either side were filled to the rafters, and the proud banners chronicling athletic heroes were overwhelmed by the patriotic red, white and blue of the Stars and Stripes.
Loved ones described Vas quez as someone who made friends quickly, who wrecked every car he ever owned, who worked tirelessly on a Volks wagen Beetle only to see it top out at 35 mph, and who loved his 1981 Corvette.
“There wasn’t a day of his life that wasn’t exciting. If it wasn’t exciting, he would make it exciting,” his sister Jennifer said. “Nothing around here was exciting enough for him. So he enlisted in the Army. We will miss him, but that’s what he was born for.”
Vasquez’s 4-year-old son, Justin David, watched the 75-minute service from the front row.
“He said he was coming to say goodbye to his daddy,” said the elder Justin’s father, Tino Vas quez. “But I’m not sure he understands.”
Vasquez also is survived by his wife, Riley; his mother, Vicki Bosley; and his sister Janneke Vasquez.
He was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star by Fort Carson Brig. Gen. Ken Keen.
“His commander said he was hard pressed to ever find him in a state of low morale,” Keen said. “He spoke of his dedication and charisma.
“There was always a smile on his face because he loved his work and he loved those he worked with,” Keen said.
After the service, family and friends accompanied Vasquez’s flag-draped casket as it was carried by an 1870 horse-drawn casket coach to Mountainview Cemetery, where he was buried with full military honors.
Vasquez, described as a born leader, commanded a Bradley Fighting Vehicle unit and was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, based at Fort Carson.
He was on his second tour of duty in Iraq after re-enlisting for another six years.
“He didn’t have to go the second time because of a back injury, and I was afraid for him to go back,” his sister Jennifer said. “But he said he didn’t want his guys to have to train without him.”
More than half the men in his Lightning Troop were new recruits.
He was a master rappeller in the Army and met his wife at a climbing gym in Colorado Springs when he was stationed at Fort Carson.
They unofficially married at the top of a 200-foot spire they climbed at Garden of the Gods before formally tying the knot before family seven months later.
“I remember the first time I climbed Montezuma’s Tower in the Garden of the Gods was with Justin,” wrote his best man, Israel Estares, on an Internet remembrance site. “I was so scared, but he was always so calm when the situation became stressful.”
The vehicle in which Vasquez and two other soldiers were riding was stopped by an improvised explosive device June 5.
Led by Vasquez, the trio exited the vehicle to secure the area and were killed by a second explosive device, family members said.
Tino Vasquez said his son’s leadership qualities may have contributed to his death.
“He was always the first one out of the gate and led by example. He always wanted to help the other guy,” Tino Vasquez said.
But townspeople also knew another side of the boy who liked to play “army commander” as a child in their garages and yards.
He was a tough cuss.
Sister Jennifer said you knew Justin Vasquez loved you if he flipped a single-finger salute viewed by most as offensive.
“Ornery – the word came up with nearly everyone I spoke with,” said the Rev. John Dell, who officiated. “With some people you have to spell it with all capital letters.”
Justin’s 20-year-old cousin, Chris Vasquez, joined the Marines in August and will deploy to Iraq in January. He will be the third member of the Manzanola High class of 2004 to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
He said he’s not deterred by his cousin’s death.
“He was my hero. I looked up to him since I was a little kid,” Chris Vasquez said. “At first I was just like my cousin: Let’s go. Put me on the ship. I’m ready. Then when I got the message from the Red Cross about Justin, reality sunk in. Bullets are flying.”
Tino Vasquez said he offered Chris the same advice he had given Justin: “Be careful, and keep an eye out. You can’t always see the enemy.”
Staff writer Dave Curtin can be reached at 303-820-1276 or dcurtin@denverpost.com.
