PALMDALE, CA, USA U.S. Marines LCPL, G CO, 2D BN, 8TH MAR, (RCT-3, 2D MEB FWD), 2D MAR DIV, CAMP LEJEUNE, NC BASTION, AFGHANISTAN 08/08/2009
Javier Olvera
Lance Corporal Javier Olvera of Palmdale, California, joined the Marine Corps in 2006. He has two brothers. He was deployed to Iraq from November 2007 to May 2008 and subsequently to Afghanistan.
Javier held in his heart an immense lover for his family and friends. He was incredibly generous, known for his random acts of kindness. His mother remembers one of his last trips home, when he saw a homeless man outside of a restaurant. He invited him in to eat with him, and his group of friends. Javier loved hearing other people’s stories-and enjoyed making each person’s day just a little bit brighter in whatever way he could.
He taught all around him to live life to the fullest, every day. He spent every second he could having fun with the ones that he loved.
No one in Javier’s family had ever joined the military, and Javier “wanted to do something good.” Not only did he achieve that, he far surpassed it.