SAS Team BJJ Manchester

All hail the Fox God.

ROSWELL, N.M. — A Roswell Marine sergeant who was killed in Iraq was remembered by friends as a strong man with a powerful presence.

Sgt. Moses Daniel Rocha, 33, was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart before his burial service Saturday at South Park Cemetery.

Rocha’s friend Melanie Varagon described him as “Superman.”

“He just had that aura about him like nothing could hurt him and he helped make you a stronger person by being near him,” she said. “He was such a strong person who could always lift your spirits up.”

Rocha’s family had hoped his half-brother would be released from jail to attend his memorial service and burial. But a judge refused to release Aloysius Sanchez Jr., 21, from the Lincoln County Detention Center.

Rocha died Aug. 5 near the Iraqi city of Najaf. He was driving to recover supplies for his unit when he came under fire from Iraqi militants armed with guns and mortars, according to Capt. Christopher Teague, a Marine Corps family assistance liaison.

Rocha was serving his second tour in Iraq. He had graduated from Goddard High School in 1990 and joined the Marine Corps at age 24. He was stationed at Camp Pendleton before being deployed to Iraq.

Rocha’s natural father, two sisters and one brother live in Orange County, Calif. Rocha’s mother, Velina Sanchez, his step-father and three brothers live in Roswell.

Rocha is also survived by his daughter, Miranda Pruitt.

Rocha is the fifth New Mexico serviceman to die in Iraq since the war began and the second from Roswell to die in August. Army Sgt. Tommy Gray died Aug. 3 after a motor pool accident in the city of Taji.

Rafael Peralta (April 7, 1979 – November 15, 2004) was a United States Marine killed in combat during the Second Battle of Fallujah during the Iraq War. In September 2008 his family was notified that he was awarded the Navy Cross, the second-highest award a United States Marine can receive.[1] In February 2012, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced that a new Arleigh Burke-class destroyer would be named USS Rafael Peralta.

Memorial Day.... it is a day of remembrance. A day we remember, and thank those who gave all, so we can enjoy our freedoms.

Sas Team Manchester will operate on normal schedule. Train JiuJitsu because it is a freedom many men died to ensure!!!

Monday is a day of freedom. Freedom to be with your family, freedom to train JiuJitsu, freedom to go to the park. Enjoy your freedom, it was paid for with BLOOD of millions of brave men.

Semper Fidelis
Always Faithful to my God, my Country, my Corps

Today 5 Sas Team schools came together to train!!





It may have been short notice, however, when the call went out we all made it happen. Thank you to everyone who came in today and trained. It is always amazing to meet new Team mates, and roll woth the ones I've know for the past 13.5 years.