Hundreds mourn
Schofield corporal

Military officials and veterans salute
Diaz's family at his funeral

SAN BENITO, Texas » Representatives from the Army, Marine Corps and several veterans groups saluted family members and others gathered to honor a Schofield Barracks soldier who died when the military vehicle he was riding in overturned in Afghanistan.

Hundreds of mourners crowded into San Benito Funeral Home on Thursday during the service for Army Cpl. Isaac E. Diaz. His 4-year-old son, Aaron Matthew Diaz, touched a dog tag around his neck and reached out for a flag presented to his mother before putting his head on Amber Diaz's lap.

The soldier, assigned to 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, died on Dec. 1.

"At times like this, it's better to be silent and provide the ministry of presence," said Maj. Noel Cisneros, an Army Reserves chaplain from San Juan, telling family members, "Today we grieve with you in your loss."

Diaz's flag-draped casket was then placed in a hearse as about 40 military veterans and active-duty personnel slowly saluted.

At Mont Meta Cemetery, Maj. Gen. George Weightman, commander of the Army Medical Department Center and School at Fort Sam Houston, presented the folded flag to Diaz's parents. He gave the second flag to Amber Diaz, who hugged it, sobbing quietly.

Her 26-year-old husband, of Rio Hondo in South Texas, was posthumously awarded the Army Commendation Medal.

"I will miss him," said Staff Sgt. Casey Sorensen-Kindt, who was Diaz's supervisor in Hawaii before his deployment. "He was one of the finest soldiers I've ever met."