Honoring SSgt Javier O Ortiz-Rivera

Javier O. Ortiz-Rivera graduated from Edison Tech HS in 2002. He joined the Marines in 2002.

"My husband was very much loved by his Marines, his friends, community, and especially myself and our kids." Veronica Ortiz, wife. "He told me he was extremely blessed to be out there with the guys he was out there with. He started a Bible study with his guys, and his faith was stronger than ever."

"Javier was the absolute best father any kid could ever hope for," she wrote. "His kids were his pride and joy and of all the jobs he had, being a father was what he did best."

"He was not just my brother. He was everybody's brother."  Glory Ortiz, sister. "He cared a lot about his guys there, making sure their families were OK, and making sure they were OK before they left for Afghanistan. He was very caring about his guys."

He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Camp LeJeune, NC.  He had deployed 3x to Iraq and was on his second tour to Afghanistan.

Ortiz-Rivera is survived by his wife Veronica Ortiz and three children, Alyssa Jade, 8, Andrew Joshua, 5, and Anthony Javier, 3; mother, Gloria Rivera; father, Orlando Ortiz; brother, Orlando Javier Ortiz, and sister, Glory Ortiz.

If you knew SSgt Ortiz-Rivera personally and have stories to share of His Honor, Valor, and Character, to help complete this post, honoring his life, please let us know.