Mourners Line Up to Pay Tribute to Soldier

Public viewing begins Wednesday

MISSION - Hundreds of people gathered to welcome home a fallen soldier.

The body of Army Specialist Alex Gonzalez was brought home on a private plane this morning. The 21-year-old was killed in action last week in Mosul, Iraq. He's the second Mission soldier killed in less than two months.

Gonzalez's family waited for his arrival at an airport hanger outside McCreery Aviation. Other residents stood outside the area to show their support.

The procession made a short stop at the home Gonzalez grew up in. It then proceeded to the funeral home.

Hundreds of supporters stood in the streets as the procession passed.

"Hopefully, it doesn't happen often. But it's sad to know that someone from our hometown died fighting for our country," says Melissa Gonzalez.

NEWSCHANNEL 5 spoke to fallen soldier's uncle, Sergio Gonzalez.

He tells us it's been a difficult time for most of his family, but he believes his nephew is in a better place.

Sergio Gonzalez says his nephew was prepared to pay the ultimate price for his country.

"We got to go with the mentality that... we're not coming back. And that's the way it was for me. And I'm sure that's the way it was for Alex as well," he says.

Private services for the Army specialist are scheduled for today at Virgil Wilson Funeral Home.

Public viewing starts tomorrow and goes through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. A rosary will be held each day at 7 p.m.

The funeral mass for Specialist Gonzalez is set for noon Saturday at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Mission. His burial will follow at the Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission.