UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
MARINE MEDIUM HELICOPTER SQUADRON 364 MARINE AIRCRAFT GROUP 29 (-) (REIN)
2D MARINE AIRCRAFT WING (FWD)
II MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE (FWD) UNIT 42015
FPO AP 96426'2015
February 12, 2007

Mrs. Lilia Carr

The words that I offer will fall short of expressing the sense of loss that the squadron is feeling. The grief and sadness our squadron is experiencing pales in comparison to the loss you have suffered from the recent passing of your son Sergeant James Tijerina. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during these difficult hours and the days ahead. The loss of James has been felt through all ranks in this squadron. His quiet demeanor and friendship will be missed by all.
James was excited about his orders to Hawaii. He was looking forward to being able to spend more time with Clowean and having a job that would not take him away from her on deployment. He spent a good deal of time searching for houses on-line and conferring with his friends on the ins and outs of purchasing a home.
James enjoyed flying with Sergeant Travis Pfister. There was a lineage he was proud of. That Travis trained Sergeant Paul Wood and Woody in turn had trained him. He was an outstanding crew chief and Marine. We worked to keep him in the Marine Corps by getting him orders to Hawaii. James was excited about his future, but he remained focused on the most noble mission in Marine aviation, Casualty Evacuation. He knew that going to the aid of our wounded Marines was the highest calling and he always answered that call.
James was on the lead aircraft of our section for the operational check flight that morning. I was their wingman as they led us out to the ranges. We returned to the pattern and flew half an hour of formation flight. We had a good time working the pattern, I could see James in the crew door as we flew around the pattern. He was flying with some of the best aircrew in the squadron, Captain Jennifer Harris, Sergeant Travis Pfister and First Lieutenant Jared Landaker.
James was called out on an Urgent CASEVAC, a US service member was on a ventilator and required immediate surgery. James's aircraft, Morphine 12, was in the number one slot and took the mission. They safely delivered the Urgent surgical and two other patients to the hospital in Balad. On the way back, they were asked to pick up a much needed box of blood from Balad and deliver it to a field hospital near Fallujah. En route to Fallujah, their aircraft was lost with all seven crewmembers on board.

We held a memorial service for James and the crew of Morphine 12 on t 11th of February. Corporal Wilson delivered James' eulogy. James' fait was unshakeable and leads us to believe that he is in a better place, watching over those of us he left behind. There were no empty seats in the chapel as James had many friends among the Purple Foxes.
My thoughts and prayers are with you. If there is anything I can do to be of assistance to you in any way, please do not hesitate to contact me.
With Deepest Sympathy
S. C. Killeen
Lieutenant Colonel, U. S. Marine Corps
Commanding Officer