LAPD officer remembers fellow Marine who died from COVID-19

LOS ANGELES - As we see the faces behind the coronavirus numbers, we learned of the death of a 43-year old well known Marine veteran.

Robert Mendoza served in the Gulf War and survived an IED attack, but lost his battle with COVID-19 in the San Diego area.

Mendoza is remembered by fellow Marine, Victor Lopez, an LAPD officer. Lopez says Mendoza was that guy who would give you the shirt off his back.

Lopez and Mendoza had worked together overseas. They stayed friends over the years. He says Mendoza, who owned Tactical Defense Systems in Oceanside, was in the process of making masks for the military. 

When asked what would he say to people who think COVID-19 is just the flu? A saddened Lopez answered, "it's just the flu until it's someone you know."

Mendoza went into the hospital with coronavirus symptoms and died by the end of that week in Mid-April. He has a 9-year-old son, Christian.