Fallen Marine remembered and laid to rest in Ventura County

An American hero born in Ventura was laid to rest close to home on Saturday.

Staff Sergeant Robert Cox was one of 16 Marines killed when a transport plane crashed into a field in Mississippi on July 10.

A flag-draped casket carrying his body was carried into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ventura.

Cox would have celebrated his 10th anniversary with the Marine Corps this month.

Military members who served alongside him said Cox had a tireless work ethic and was always the first to volunteer for duty.

Most recently, Cox was stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina as a critical skills operator. He deployed several times to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Military families, residents and veterans lined the streets to pay their respects as his casket was transported to the burial site. The funeral took place at Pierce Brothers Santa Paula Cemetery.

His father, Millard Cox, issued a statement about the loss. “If it weren’t for my other two children, my heart and soul would be empty,” he said.