Yumans pay respects at soldier's viewing
A steady flow of people of all ages, some carrying flowers or artwork, streamed into Johnson Mortuary to pay respects to Sgt. Frank Michael Sandoval, 27. "I'm just here because he's a fallen hero," said Sheila Lee of Yuma. "I just wish more people from Yuma would support our troops."
"They're such a tight-knit family. Their strength will get them through this," said Jackie Ruby. "Don't wait until something like this happens ... We have to support what they're (our troops) doing for us."
Yuma County Sheriff Ralph Ogden said Sandoval's father worked for the sheriff's office when he was chief deputy, and he would occasionally bring "Frankie" to the office with him.
Ogden said the large turnout and community support for Sandoval show how many Yumans knew him from childhood years, Kofa High, the school wrestling team or from his work.
"He gained tremendous respect for the sacrifices he made and the job he did for us. Through two years of injuries ... he kept a smile on his face."
Ogden said Sandoval's survivors are a "fantastic family unit."
"A lot of people are so sad," said Ogden. "He paid the ultimate price."
"He was a great inspiration to everybody. My 15-year-old worships him," said family friend Tony Martinez. "He's one of a kind."
Martinez said the Sandovals are "just a patriotic family." He said Frank was inspired by his grandfather, also his namesake, who was a decorated Korean War veteran.
"It's fortunate the family got him back for those two years," Martinez said of the time period between Sandoval's injury and his death.
The visitation was held from 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday.
Funeral services will be held today at 10 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 505 S. Avenue B, with burial to follow at Desert Lawn Memorial Park, 1415 S. 1st Ave.
Those wishing to help the family can donate to Joelena A. Sandoval's fund. Joelena is Frank's surviving 5-year-old daughter. Donations can be made at AEA Federal Credit Union to account number 64765.
Sandoval was declared brain dead on June 18 at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Palo Alto, Calif. He never regained consciousness after a June 13 surgery to implant a prosthetic mold to replace a portion of his skull that was removed due to a combat injury that occurred in Iraq in November 2005. He was kept on life support until his organs were harvested for donation on June 20.
Sandoval had volunteered to be in the lead vehicle on the patrol in which he was injured in Baghdad. He had been manning a .50-caliber machine gun mounted on a Humvee when an explosion from a roadside bomb caused a projectile to become lodged in his right temple.
Doctors were forced to remove a piece of his skull due to the wound.
Sandoval was released from the hospital in September, returned to Yuma and had continued to make progress on his recovery. He earned a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. He is a 1999 graduate of Kofa High School.
Besides his daughter, Sandoval is survived by his wife, Michelle, and his parents, Rick and Beatrice Sandoval, all of Yuma.
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Nicole Squibbs can be reached at
nsquibbs@yumasun.com or 539-6855.
