Marine injured in Kabul bombing returns home, taking part in Folsom Rodeo’s military tribute
Two Sacramento-area Marines will be honored Sunday at the Folsom Pro Rodeo as part of a U.S. military tribute.
Folsom’s Sgt. Tyler Justin Vargas-Andrews and Placer County’s Capt. John Jeremy Sax will be paid tribute for their sacrifices at Dan Russell Rodeo Arena at 7 p.m.
“I am extremely honored and grateful to have such support in my time home,” Vargas-Andrews told the Folsom Telegraph ahead of his arrival. “My intent is to bring attention to my brothers and sisters in arms who have passed and provide a positive outlook on life to the community.”
Vargas-Andrews lost his left leg at the hip and his right arm above the elbow in an Aug. 26 bombing at the Kabul airport as the 20-year war in Afghanistan drew to a close.. Another capital region Marine, Sgt. Nicole Gee of Roseville, was among the 13 service members killed and 18 wounded in the insurgent suicide attack.
He returned home Friday night to family and well-wishers after a flight to Sacramento International Airport from the D.C. area, according to KCRA, before receiving a police motorcade to Folsom. Over the last 10 months, Vargas-Andrews was in extensive medical care and rehabilitation at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and has undergone 43 surgeries to recover from his injuries, CBS 13 reported Friday.
Community members made signs with welcome messages and were dispatched to tie yellow ribbons all around town, organized by Warfighter Overwatch, a nonprofit advocate for veterans and their caregivers.
Fallen Marine J.J. Sax memorialized in Placer
Sax, who grew up in the Granite Bay area and was known as J.J., was among five Marines killed in an Osprey crash in Southern California in early June. According to previous Bee reporting, Sax one of two pilots of the tilt-rotor aircraft when it went crashed during training near Glamis in Imperial County. The Osprey aircraft, which has been involved in multiple fatal accidents, was grounded by military officials in the wake of the incident.
Sax left behind his wife and two daughters — toddler Eleanor and Emma, who is due in September. Family and friends held a funeral Thursday at Lincoln Regional Airport before he was interred at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon.
“For those of you that knew Johnny, you saw his huge smile, bright light, his love for his family, the Marines, the joy of flying airplanes and defending our country,” said his father, former Dodgers All-Star Steve Sax. “He was my hero and the best man I know, there was no better person to defend our country.”
This story was originally published July 2, 2022 at 2:20 PM.