9/11 REMEMBRANCE: Rivera, Ramirez, Cardenaz — RIP

By Sam Quiñonez, A Reporter’s Blog

In the wake of the anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, I thought it appropriate to list some of the obituaries of soldiers who’ve died in the wars that grew from the event.

Most recently, U.S. Marine Lance Cpl Richard A. Rivera, Jr., of Oxnard, was killed in Afghanistan in a green-on-blue attack.

Another story I’ll never forget is of Lance Cpl Rogelio Ramirez, from Pasadena, who spent three years trying to get into the Marines, then was killed less than two months into his deployment in Iraq. Amazing, the story his mother told of how hard he tried, and the things he did, to be acceptable to the Marine Corps.

Sgt. Michael Cardenaz, of Corona, was an enlistee planning on making the Army a career. A larger-than-life guy to the folks who knew him.

Powerful, emotional things, these stories.

A thank you to these guys and condolences to their families.

This article was first published in A reporter’s Blog.

Sam Quiñones has been a working reporter for 25 years, including 10 years in Mexico as a freelance writer. He is the author of  two books, and many stories about immigrants, gangs, drug trafficking and more.