Marine Staff Sergeant Jimmy Arroyave, 30, of Woodland, CA, was assigned to Combat Service Support Battalion 1, Combat Service Support Group 11, 1st Force Service Support Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, CA. He died April 15, 2004, during his second deployment, when his vehicle flipped over while escorting a convoy during combat operations in Ramadi, north of Baghdad.

SSgt Arroyave was born in Cali, Colombia and later moved to Woodland, CA. He was raised in Woodland and was known for his love of soccer, physical fitness, the Sacramento Kings and national parks. He graduated from Woodland’s Cache Creek High School in 1992 and joined the Marines a year later. He served a yearlong stint in Japan in 1999 and another in Kuwait in 2002.

SSgt Arroyave had planned on making service to his country a career. “I know in my heart he died doing what he loved to do,” Rachelle Arroyave said. “He was proud to be a Marine, and he loved the military.”

SSgt Arroyave leaves behind his wife, Rachelle, and his four children.