This is Part 1 of a 2 Part Mission
The family of Cpl Ian Frank Tortorici have asked The Patriot Guard to be with the family as he is brought home for burial and Military Honors. It is our privilege to be there to bring him home.
Ian was born in Oceanside and moved with his family to Lake Forest, in Orange County, when he was 5 or 6, his father said. While attending Laguna Hills High School, he joined the wrestling team and was a two-time CIF runner-up.
Upon graduation in 2009, he enlisted in the Marine Reserves to help pay for his college education. Ian served in the Reserve as a data systems technician beginning in 2009 and left as a corporal in 2016. During that time, he was activated for 10 months at Miramar, California, where he was part of Marine Wing Support Squadron 473 but was never deployed.
He went on to study teaching at Seattle Pacific University, but later went to work for Microsoft. Unhappy with the office environment, he became a law enforcement officer and paramedic for the U.S. Park Service. After three years as a park ranger, he went to work for ICE and was stationed in Philadelphia.
Whenever he had time off, however, he would travel to Europe to go backpacking and exploring. It was there that Ian met a young Ukrainian woman, who would become his girlfriend.
When Russia’s war in Ukraine began in February 2022, Ian’s girlfriend urged him to provide humanitarian aid rather than volunteer on the front lines. But instead, he signed up with the Ukrainian International Legion, a group of foreign citizens fighting for Ukraine.
His father, a former Marine and a retired U.S. Marshal, was opposed to Frank joining the Ukrainian military and told him so. However, Frank told his father ‘I’ll come home when it’s over.’ Sadly, on June 27, while Ian was eating in Kramatorsk a Russian missile struck the restaurant and he was killed along with 11 other people.
In addition to his father, Ian is survived by his mother, Sochitl Frank; two brothers, Anthony Tortorici Frank and Taylor Frank; and two sisters, Celia Garcia and Mary Ellen Soto.
NOTE: This mission posting is to facilitate your voluntary participation in honoring this military veteran. For those interested, and all PGR members are welcome, we will be accompanying our hero from the airport to the funerral home. Please see the timetable if you would like to participate. If you wish to go directly to the mortuary, please plan to be there Not Later Than 1045hrs.
NOTE: This mission includes aircraft arrival. Schedules may change at the last minute. Please check this topic befor leaving to confirm mission times.NOTE: Weather is expected to be hot. Please stay hydrated and don't forget to eat, it can make a difference with your ability to withstand the heat.
Time Table for Thursday 27 July 2023:0900 - Stage at Jack In The Box, 1840 Holt Blvd, Ontario, CA 91761,
https://goo.gl/maps/UnmCcqd9ehWc8du3A0930 - Mission Briefing
1000 - KSU to arrival location.
1030 - Depart for Evans Brown Mortuary 27010 Encanto Dr, Menifee, CA 92585
https://goo.gl/maps/ZxVQHfHfED9DHvbv8R/C Tom Barry
California PGR State Captaincasc@patriotguard.org
714-206-1227
You do not have to be a Veteran or a motorcycle rider to attend this mission. All PGR members are welcome. We encourage those who do not ride to attend in your car. If this is your first mission, go to the initial staging area, and you will be briefed by the R/C (Ride Captain). Dress for motorcycle riding or wear casual attire while driving a cage (car). Please feel free to attend any portion of this mission you can. Please ride/drive safely.
Remember that our mission is to stand tall and silent with honor and respect for our Heroes—no talking, smoking, or cell phone use during the flag line or service. Please keep the radios off and engine noise to a minimum.
Modify message
