As the funeral procession for Cpl., Brett Land passes outside the Porterville Church of the Nazarene, Army Sgt., Mike Ratekin, left, and Air Force SSGT, Jose Pineda, salute the hearse carrying Land's casket. Photo by Casey Christie/The Californian.

PORTERVILLE -- A determined competitor. A patriot. An inspiration.

All of these were used to describe Brett W. Land at his funeral service Wednesday afternoon. But the word "hero" may have been used most often as friends tried to give the crowd of hundreds an idea of the type of person Land was.

"He was truly an American hero," said friend and fellow wrestler Elijah Nacita.

Read the full story from Bakersfield.com here.