Victor awaited the time when he could replace his Marine Corps uniform for one of policeman blue.

Victor A. Gonzalez was born on December 29, 1984, in Salinas, California, to Sergio and Amalia Gonzalez. The Gonzalez family, which also included another son, Oscar, and daughters, Edenia and Myrna, later moved to the small community of Pajaro. Gonzalez was educated in Pajaro Valley elementary schools and in September 1999 entered Watsonville High School. While in high school, he was described as being an above average student who appeared to have his life under control. Because of his dependability he was selected to work as a messenger in the principal's office. In sports Victor played on the school's soccer team and ran cross-country. His main interest however, was the cadet program conducted by the Watsonville Police Department where he became a cadet lieutenant.

After Gonzalez graduated from high school in 2003, he enlisted in the US Marine Corps. He completed his basic and school-of-infantry training at Camp Pendleton, California, and returned home on leave prior to deployment to Iraq. During that leave, he confided with police officers that becoming a policeman was his chosen career and that he "couldn't wait to put on his blue police uniform."

Private First Class Gonzalez arrived in Iraq in the spring of 2004 and was assigned as a rifleman in the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment of the 1st Marine Division serving in Anbar province. On October 13, 2004 his battalion was part of a convoy destined to secure a hot spot in the province when they came under attack. In the ensuing firefight Lance Corporal Victor A. Gonzalez was killed.

His body was recovered and returned to Watsonville. Following a funeral at St. Patrick's Church on October 22, 2004, he was buried in Valley Catholic cemetery.

(SCSn October 15, 2004 1, SCSn October 23, 2004 1:1)