HOHENFELS, Germany -- On Job Shadow day, many Hohenfels children accompany their parents to work for an up-close look at what their jobs entail. But for Justin and Jennifer Arizmendez, whose father Staff Sgt. Marc A. Arizmendez was killed in action last July, that didn't seem to be an option this year.

Barbara Arizmendez said that last year the Elementary school provided a trip to the training area for children whose parents were deployed.

"My husband told the kids, next year I'm going to take you," she said.

"Barbara found out that her son wanted to go to the motor pool and learn what his father does, and she told him to wait till job shadow day," said Lt. Col. Rafael A. Paredes, 1rst Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment commander. "When I heard about that, I said we can just do it now."

In conjunction with presenting the Arizmendez family with their Soldier's posthumous Meritorious Service Medal, Paredes conducted the children out to the motor pool to see firsthand where their father worked.

"You should be proud of your father," Paredes told the children. "He was a great man. Due to his work ethic and his leadership he was able to touch a lot of people. He left an indelible mark and because of that we're going to present him with this medal."

"We submitted this award back in May or June, as an end of tour award," said Cpt. William R. Duncan, Arizmendez's former company commander.

When Arizmendez died, his award was immediately upgraded to a Bronze Star, but Duncan felt there was some confusion as to whether that award was for the incident that took his life or for the tour award.

"We determined there was no reason not to submit the tour award as well," Duncan said. "He did such great service for us, during the deployment. I had a bunch of good mechanics, but I didn't have any better than Marc Arizmendez. We just wanted to be sure we followed that one all the way through, because he earned it."

After the brief award ceremony, Paredes conducted the family out to the motor pool. As they reminisced and laughed about past times with Arizmendez, the children commented on a deep rumble growing steadily in the distance.

"She's on," Paredes said.

"She" turned out to be an M88 armored recovery vehicle, but not just any M88.

"That particular machine was his (Arizmendez) when he first arrived back in 2009" said Master Sgt. Lance W. Howard, 1-4th maintenance supervisor. "He loved the M88."

Justin and Jennifer clambered aboard and strapped on Kevlars. Their heads and hands popped out of the hatches as the M88 lumbered across the asphalt.

"They'd seen it in the bay before," Barbara said of the massive vehicle, "but they've never heard it on, and they've certainly never rode in it."

"They ain't going to be able to sleep for a week," laughed Command Sgt. Maj. Seann P. O'Brien as the beaming children climbed from the vehicle.

"That was way past cool," Justin said.

Jennifer said she had wanted to ride in the M88 since the first time she'd seen one.

"I couldn't drive, though," she said. "I'm too short."

Barbara said she was very touched by all the support she's been shown by the entire Hohenfels community.

"They are still very much a part of the 1-4 family," Paredes said.

As the trip came to a close, Barbara watched with tear filled eyes as Justin ran ahead, clutching his father's medal to his chest.

"He's always saying, 'I want to be just like daddy when I grow up,'" she said. "It hurts on one side hearing it, but I know I won't stop him if he will join the army. I'll support him just like I supported Marc."