Salazar memorial photo honored

Jace Radke

Tuesday, April 5, 2005 | 11:14 a.m.

An image of a serviceman mourning the loss of a Las Vegas Marine was part of a portfolio of Associated Press photographs from the war in Iraq that have been recognized for the Pulitzer prize in breaking news photography.

Marine Cpl. William Salazar, 26, of Las Vegas, was killed Oct. 15, 2004 when a car bomb exploded near Qaim, Iraq near the Syrian border.

The picture shows a fellow Marine resting his hand on Salazar's helmet as it sits on his M-16 at Camp Blue Diamond, on the outskirts of Ramadi, Iraq.

Salazar, a member of Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton, Calif., wrote an e-mail to his father less than two days before he was killed.

"Dad, It's getting tight around here. There have been a few near misses with road bombs. It's scary, but I'm tough. I'll be OK ... I'm still alive and well. Happy Birthday. I always forget your birthday so if I'm late or early, at least I tried to remember. So Happy Birthday Dad."

The e-mail was the last communication Gus Salazar had from his son.

After graduating from South Gate High School in his native Lynwood, Calif., William Salazar took a handful of graphic arts classes at the Art Institute of Los Angeles. He also took classes at the East Los Angeles Community College.

In May 2001, he moved in with his uncle and aunt, Lou and Cecila Salazar, at their northeast Las Vegas home.

Before joining the Marines, William Salazar worked at Metro Pizza on Tropicana Avenue, his uncle said.

Family members described Salazar as a "very fun-loving person who loved life and had a lot of family values."

The photograph, and the others in the portfolio of twenty, were taken by 11 different Associated Press photographers throughout 2004 in Iraq. The award was the 48th Pulitzer won by the Associated Press.