On March 30th, 2022, two members of our SOS family testified in Washington DC on the Subcommittee on Military Personnel Hearing: “Patient Safety and Quality of Care in the Military Health System” Mr. Dez Del Barba, US Army Veteran and Mr. Derrick Luckey, Father of Seaman Danyelle Luckey.
Patrick Vega shouldn’t have died. The 21-year-old recruit’s chest stopped rising and falling shortly before midnight on March 23, 2018, as he lay in his bunk at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego.
STOCKTON, Calif. (Tribune News Service) — Many young adults grow up with dreams of one day serving their country, wearing a uniform proudly and serving the nation that they love, putting their own life on the line for freedom.
Often, though, they are unaware of their own rights, or of the conditions that they will be placed in to achieve that dream. Many are also unaware of the Feres Doctrine (the Federal Tort Claims Act) — the “best kept open military secret.”
Vega Family Reaches out to Family of Marine Killed
"We reached out to his family. [It's a] sad thing, to have to call another family and lend support and share grief with," said Manuel Vega, Patrick's father. "My family and I realize it is a matter of time before another recruit passes away during training. My family and I started Save Our Service Members SOS. We advocate for victims of military medical malpractice and negligent leadership."
"I am asking for justice. I am asking for you guys to please help me share the story about my son, Brandon Javier Alvarez."
The woman is Newbury Park resident Maria Cruz. Her son, Cpl. Brandon Javier Alvarez, was found dead on June 6 in Bahrain, where he had been stationed with the U.S. Marine Corps. He was 22 years old.
Another local Marine died in a non-combat scenario in 2018. Oxnard resident Patrick Vega, 21, died after a medical emergency at boot camp in San Diego. Vega's father, Manny Vega, has since started an advocacy group called "Save Our Servicemembers," which is aimed at helping victims of medical malpractice and negligence in the U.S. armed forces.
Camarillo, CA - Save our Servicemembers (SOS), a new nonprofit that advocates for victims of military medical malpractice & negligence, announced the launch of its nonprofit and website today. Founded in the summer of 2020, Save Our Servicemembers seeks accountability at all levels of military leadership, especially from those who are entrusted to lead our young men and women through the first steps of their military careers.
Save our Servicemembers: EIN: 85-4117175
90 Wood Road Suite A, Camarillo, California 93010
Copyright © 2021 Save Our Service Members - All Rights Reserved.
SOS is a certified 501(c)(3) organization.