For Miguel Obleas, a Herndon firefighter at Station 4, November was a difficult month.
Obleas' mother died in November after a long illness. His brother, Javier Obleas, was not able to attend the funeral because he was in Iraq serving with the Marine Corps.
On Thanksgiving day, the brother, Gunnery Sgt. Javier Obleas 36, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, was in a Humvee that was hit by a road-side bomb. The Department of Defense release stated that he was injured Nov. 25, "as result of enemy action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq."
Javier Obleas initially survived the explosion, and was flown to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany — the initial plan was to fly him to Bethesda Naval Hospital.
But Javier Obleas’ condition deteriorated, and Miguel Obleas was able to fly to Germany to be with his brother when he died there Dec. 1.
After his brother's death, Miguel Obleas remained in Germany for a few days to spend time with other wounded soldiers from Iraq. Obleas returned with his brother's body at Dover Air Force Base Dec. 4. The funeral will be in Arlington National Cemetery, Thursday, Dec. 9, at 10:45 a.m.
Although stationed in San Antonio, Texas, Javier Obleas was from Falls Church and went to Falls Church High School. Obleas is survived by his wife, Kim, and 18-month-old daughter, Lina.
—Brynn Grimley