Hundreds of active duty Air Force personnel joined the SE Texas Patriot Guard riders today to honor Spc. Joshua Molina as his body arrived at Ellington Field. The procession stretched over a mile long as it wound its way around Houston’s 610 Loop to Bellaire’s Earthman Funeral Home.
Spc. Molina was KIA on Thursday, March 27th when an IED exploded near his vehicle. He graduated from Elsik High School in the Alief ISD after attending Bellaire High and being a member of the ROTC. He planned to attend college and become a Border Patrol or FBI agent after his military service ended.
By all accounts, he was full of life and was the life of the party.
Comrades remembered Molina, 20, as an expert saw-gunner and gifted comedian who could always get his audience to smile, Capt. Emmanuel Sioson, 1st Squadron’s rear detachment commander, said.
“Josh was a great story teller. His stories would take five to 10 minutes to reach a punch line,” he said.
He was fulfilling a lifelong dream when he enlisted in the Army.
He was remembered as the man who liked to have fun and as someone who was always smiling. His brother said he wanted to be in the military since he was a child.
“Since he was a little kid he liked to play war and guns and we would just play around. He loved the military, especially the U.S. Army,” said Molina.
In January, he came back to Houston and visited his family and friends. His sister recounts her last visit with him.
“I was going to get up and give him a hug and he said, ‘No, just stay there. I’ll see you again,’ ” remembered Fredrickson, 27. “I told him, ‘Don’t be a hero. Just do what you have to do and come back safe.’ ”
That was the last time she saw him alive.
She typed this message in her grief and posted a picture of herself with her brother.
On behalf of my family I would like to thank everyone for their lovely messages and for having us in your thoughts and prayers, we are grateful and I’m sure that so is my brother, once again thank you.
to my brother Joshua(my chachi) aka Big Mo I love you, I miss you, I’m proud of you and we will see each other again, You are my HERO.
You are ours too, Spc. Molina. RIP.
Background:
Click2Houston/MSNBC
Houston Chronicle
Legacy Guest Book
Stars and Stripes
Filed Under Front Page ·
Comments
9 Responses to “Big Mo Comes Home”Search
Our Sponsors
Poll
Loading ...LST Book Club
-
Defending Identity: Its Indispensable Role in Protecting Democracy
by Natan Sharansky -
Fear No Evil
by Natan Sharansky -
The Case For Democracy: The Power of Freedom to Overcome Tyranny and Terror
by Anatoly Shcharansky -
The Jewish State: The Struggle for Israel's Soul
by Yoram Hazony -
Bobos in Paradise: The New Upper Class and How They Got There
by David Brooks -
Snobbery: The American Version
by Joseph Epstein -
A Conflict of Visions: Idealogical Origins of Political Struggles
by Thomas Sowell
Look at these people standing with flags to honor this fallen hero. Thanks to all of you. I hope his family knows we honor his service, and are so thankful for his sacrifice and theirs.
God bless him and his family - and all like him.
God Bless..I hope that special reception meets you on the other side.
I was headed south on I-45 earlier when you guys were entering the freeway. It was a sight to see all of the bikes with the flags - thanks to all of the P.G. members for taking the time to do this.
As I was driving, I realized that all of the people stopped on the northbound lanes had no idea why it was they were stopped on the freeway. Has anyone ever thought of having a truck with a sign on the opposite side of the freeway to inform those people sitting in their cars? It would give them a lot to think about and reflect on while waiting.
I would think that a quick cure for road rage is to realize that you’re waiting for a fallen soldier to pass by. I know my schedule didn’t seem to matter much to me after I drove past you all.
I missed it Sgt. Molina. THANK for your servive
Texans always give so much. The little town of Junction has a memorial to their fallen. They lost 4 in Vietnam. With so much military here on Oahu, we hear about the losses constantly - and hold our breathes every time feeling sad for the family, but hoping it’s not my nephew.
God bless you Sgt. Molina. You and those who you served with are the reasons we can all sleep safe tonight. May God keep your family and give them the assurance that this life is short and they will indeed be reunited with you in the next life.
# 4 raiderdav
I think the PGR is known for what they do. And usually the rides are LEO escorted and all too often hearse escorted. Where the riders are clearly marked with PGR flags front and rear and the PGR support staff is also we/they can only travel in so many directions at one time.
G’ Bless Sgt. Molina and his family. One gave some, some gave all.
As the sounds of the fighter jets ebbed, there was nothing heard but the snap of the flags in a freshening breeze…
See you on the other side Molina!
God bless this proud soldier, and his family.
And God bless the Patriot guard and all those who take the time to show such wonderful respect at these funerals!