This is the fourth part of Fox News Digital’s “Freedom Isn’t Free” series honoring America’s fallen heroes.
Gold Star parents Alicia and Herman Lopez, both former police officers, have started a foundation in their son’s name to serve the next generation of Marines.
Corporal Hunter Lopez, 22, was killed in action on Aug. 26, 2021, in Kabul along with 12 other U.S. soldiers during the withdrawal from Afghanistan.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Alicia and Herman Lopez reflected on what the phrase “freedom isn’t free” means to them after their son’s life, service and sacrifice.
“I just want people to take a moment and think about their freedom, their barbecue, and realize there were men and women who signed on the dotted line, wrote checks for their lives, and some of those checks were cashed,” Alicia Lopez said.
Nicole M. Gee, the U.S. Marine Sergeant killed in Afghanistan, “loved her job” and “was willing to take the risks.”
U.S. Marine Corps Corporal Hunter Lopez was killed in action in Afghanistan on August 26, 2021. He was 22 years old. (Alicia Lopez)
““I think it’s important for people to remember that this isn’t a catchphrase. It’s not for us,” Herman Lopez said. “It means a lot, and it’s not just for our 13 families, but for all the people who have served since the beginning of this country… there are people who are still deployed today and protecting this country.”
“…There are men and women who signed on the dotted line and wrote checks with their lives. And some of those checks were cashed.”
“Even though our sons and daughters make that ultimate sacrifice, everyday military service comes with so many other sacrifices: separation from family, financial hardship, travel difficulties and all that comes with being in the military,” he added.
Hunter Lopez was born and raised in Indio, California on January 15, 1999. Alicia Lopez described Hunter as “a very old soul who knows what he wants in life.”
“I think it’s important for people to remember that this isn’t a catchphrase. To us, it’s not a catchphrase. It means a lot.”
Hunter turned 18, graduated from high school and enjoyed spending the summer with friends and family before starting recruit training in September 2017. His parents say Hunter’s discipline and commitment to readiness and physical fitness were key to his success in the Marines.
Corporal Hunter Lopez was a man who made those around him better people, according to his father, Herman Lopez. (Alicia Lopez)
“He always liked to be prepared and wanted the Marines around him to be the best they could be. After he passed away, we heard a lot of stories about him helping young Marines in a variety of ways, not just with military matters but also with any personal issues they had, like money or family,” Herman Lopez said.
After the boot camp,[Hunter] “He went straight to Virginia and joined the fleet’s counterterrorism unit and spent two years there. He did two tours of duty, in Cuba and Jordan, and he served on a ship called a MEU,” his mother said.
“From there he was stationed at Camp Pendleton. He transferred to Camp Pendleton where he was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, and this was his final deployment, he was deployed to Bahrain, and from there he was sent to Afghanistan,” she added.
Freedom Isn’t Free: U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal Jared M. Schmitz
Corporal Lopez deployed to Kabul in August 2021 during the twilight years of the U.S. occupation of the war-torn country.
“August 15 was our last Zoom call with Hunter,” his mother said. “He was thinking about us and telling us to watch the news. We could see during the Zoom call that he was very tired and anxious to go and help his fellow brothers and sisters who were already in Kabul.”
Hunter’s father added: “He saw what was happening to the women and children in Afghanistan and I think that motivated our Marines, our sons and daughters, to do more. They were there on a humanitarian mission.”
Hunter Lopez has a close family, and his mother, Alicia, convinced him to take the summer off before boot camp.
“And I think it’s important that people remember what these brave men and women did, and what they did above and beyond the call of duty in my opinion, that changed thousands, tens of thousands of lives forever.”
Donations flooded the Lopez family from across the United States after Hunter died in Kabul on August 26, 2021. Alicia and Herman chose to turn their grief into gratitude, and founded the Hunter Lopez Memorial Foundation that same year.
“And I think it’s important that people remember what these brave men and women did, and what they did above and beyond the call of duty in my opinion, that changed thousands, tens of thousands of lives forever.”
“We started the foundation within three months of Hunter passing,” Alicia says. “People all over the country, from California to New York, were donating money to us, sending a few dollars here and there and saying, ‘This is for what we need,’ but my husband and I realized we couldn’t spend that money ourselves, we had to give it to people who needed it, so we decided to start a foundation.”
The Hunter Lopez Memorial Foundation donates scholarships and helps families attend Marine Corps Recruit Depot graduation ceremonies, and has sponsored four service dogs for veterans.
Corporal Lopez is buried in Riverside National Cemetery in California.
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Herman Lopez reflected on one of Hunter’s best qualities: “He took the time to make those around him better, and that’s something we’ll all always miss very much.”
