One young man on Guam is taking up a huge responsibility to honor his fallen stepfather. As the island honors fallen heroes, 21-year-old Julian Villagomez is honoring his stepfather Sergeant Brian Leon Guerrero in a very special way. Villagomez last week swore into the National Guard, but his reason for doing so is heartwarming.

He told KUAM News,"I felt like it was my time to serve my country and give my devoted work to help keep this island safe and help protect my family and my loved ones around me." SGT Leon Guerrero served in the National Guard's Alpha Company before making the ultimate sacrifice for his country. He was killed in action while serving in Afghanistan in 2008. "It feels overwhelming but bearable," said Villagomez. "He is my stepfather and he served and he gave the ultimate sacrifice to make sure everyone is safe and it feels like I should take his place to help honor in his footsteps and continue where he left off."

But Villagomez not only joined the National Guard - he requested to be in the same unit as his stepfather. "I requested to join Alpha Company because that is the company that my stepdad has been in his whole military career and when he left so it felt like it was right and it felt I would say lucky and honorable," he said.

And like his stepfather, Villagomez says he will start from the bottom in infantry and work his way up. "I can just imagine a smile on his face," he said. "I just hope that he's smiling in Heaven above me now."