"They got a call that they desperately need blood. Their crew, my son and the others corpsmen, volunteered to go get that blood and that's when they were shot down," said Gilbert Minjares Sr.

Minjares was very involved in his community. He was a Hanks graduate. He played football there. When became a Navy recruiter, he recruited there.

His family said he always put others' needs before his. His mother, Rosa Minjares, said his job as a medic in the Navy was fitting. He died on Feb. 7, 2007 -- just seven days after he reached Iraq.

"I thought it would get easier. But it doesn't get easier. It's still very emotional," said Rosa.

Thirty-one-year-old Minjares, along with six others died when their helicopter was shot down by hostile fire. The Minjares keep his memory alive by displaying his medals, pictures and memorabilia. The Minjares are glad to hear the announcement of the end of the American combat missions.

"I love everyone that's serving and I thank them for their sacrifice and for their service," said Gilbert Minjares Sr.

"I wish they would have been back a lot sooner, so that a lot of them would come back home because there's a lot of them that past away," said Rosa.

But once the American involvement in Iraq is over, Rosa said we must never forget.

"A lot of times you forget about what the families are going through, what they're feeling or what they've missed. But freedom is not free, I already know that," said Rosa.

Minjares survived his wife and his two children who are now 6 and 3 years old.

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