De Andrade flew to Guam to be with the family of his late fiancée, U.S. Army Private First Class Jaysine Petree, 19, whose body arrived from Delaware. Her funeral will be held today.
Petree and another soldier died from an improvised explosive device attack.
Last Friday, Petree’s alma mater, Simon Sanchez High School, held a memorial ceremony to honor her.
The ceremony began with a tribute to the fallen soldier through the accounts of her closest friends and mentors.
Petree who graduated in 2009 was a member of the school’s wrestling and boxing team.
Their school’s wrestling team won first prize in a major competition where Petree competed.
Petree’s boxing partner, Diaunna Toves, said the fallen soldier was a very motivated person.
She said Petree even joined the cross-country team to condition her body for the military.
People who honored Petree described her as hard-working, determined, independent, loving and passionate.
She also did not let the stereotypes of gender stop her from doing the things she loved.
Often reserved and shy, Petree brought out the best in her and enabled her to gain more friends, Toves said.
She said they stayed in touch even when Petree left for the military.
“I was so happy for her. She told me she wanted to get married on Guam,” Toves said while holding back tears.
Petree’s fiancé, De Andrade flew to Guam to be with Petree’s family.
Petree’s brother, Jose, said his sister told him that she and De Andrade wanted to tie the knot sometime next spring.
Petree is the third Simon Sanchez High School soldier whose life was claimed by the War on Terror.
Guam Army National Guard Specialist Samson A. Mora, 28, an SSHS 1997 graduate, died in July 2008 in Afghanistan.
Army Sgt. Joshua A.S. Lukeala,23, a 2005 graduate of SSHS, died on June 7 in Afghanistan.
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