Family and friends of Cpl. Farrell Gilliam gathered Tuesday to remember the 25-year-old Marine who they called "Gilly"-- a quiet, pensive, and caring person who lost his life too soon.
A motorcade procession through Fresno led Gilliam's body to rest at Beth Israel Cemetery.
On Jan. 5, 2011, Gilliam was injured by an IED blast while deployed in Afghanistan. While he fought for two years, he succumbed to his injuries Jan. 9.
As family and friends gathered, it was evident Gilliam meant a lot to many people.
"He was fiercely loyal, he was a loving son, he was a loving brother, and he was a damn fine Marine," says Daniel Lorente, Gilliam's older brother. "Once you got through the cold staunch Marine, there was just my baby bro. Just a young, loving, fiercely loyal young man."
His injuries in the line of duty left him with his legs amputated. Gilliam underwent more than 30 surgeries.
James Finey was one Marine who was with Gilliam at the moment the IED went off. Finey says he'll remember Gilliam's fighting spirit.
"He never quit, no matter what we were doing," Finey says. "Whether it was working out, in Afghanistan after getting hurt, didn't matter. He wouldn't quit anything."
Friends and family say Gilliam hoped to go to Arizona State University and study journalism. He was a skilled shooter--outperforming 600 Marines during his training. Those who knew him say Gilliam had hopes of becoming a gunsmith.
"For the future, Farrell overcame every single obstacle presented his way. He fought all the way to the end," Lorente says.