Anyone driving on U.S. 101 Friday likely noticed fire trucks or other emergency services vehicles stationed on numerous highway overpasses between Gilroy and San Jose shortly after 5 p.m.
From San Jose International Airport to Fresno, every fire department stood at attention – showing respect, honor and solidarity for a 25-year-old U.S. Marine corporal who died Jan. 9, according to Gilroy Fire Chief Alan Anderson.
Cpl. Farrell Gilliam, serving in Afghanistan, was exiting a patrol vehicle in 2011 when he stepped on an improvised explosive device. He lost both of his legs and fought for his life for two years before succumbing to complications stemming from his injuries.
“The IED eviscerated a lot of his abdomen. It just tore him up,” Anderson said. “He had been struggling through multiple surgeries just to stay alive.”
Gilliam grew up in Fresno and had been undergoing rehabilitation in Texas since his injury.
About a decade ago, a public safety dispatcher with the San Jose Fire Department – who has two close family members that have also served in the military – started the practice of arranging escorts of the motorcades of slain service members from the San Jose International Airport, according to Anderson.
After the first casualties of the war in Afghanistan started their final journey home from the airport to their respective resting places, Deitschman began calling the chief of each fire department who serve the communities along the motorcade’s scheduled path, he explained.
“As soon as she gets word that something like that is coming in, she coordinates with all the fire chiefs to have all the fire departments along the route staff the overpasses,” Anderson said. “They turn on their lights and salute as the motorcade comes through as a ‘thank you’ to the family for the service they provided.”
Gilliam’s remains landed at the airport Friday afternoon. The airport’s fire department used two fire engines to create a massive arc of water for the plane to taxi through as it traveled to port.
As Gilliam’s motorcade was escorted along its 160-mile route to Fresno by the California Highway Patrol, the San Jose Fire Department, Morgan Hill Fire Department, South Santa Clara Valley Fire District, Gilroy Fire Department and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection manned every overpass along the way.
“They were able to staff all overpasses, which is a nice tribute,” Anderson said, adding that the GFD used two engine companies – one on the Sixth Street overpass and another on the 10th Street overpass. “It’s a great way to honor those folks who have died so that we can enjoy our freedom. It makes us feel good to be a part of that.”
A funeral service, including full military honors, is scheduled to take place at 10 a.m. Jan. 21 at the Temple Beth Israel in Fresno. According to the Department of Defense, 2,170 American service members have died as a result of combat injuries in Afghanistan.
