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Local Soldier Killed in Iraq

by DJ Sunday, Apr. 10, 2005 at 7:57 AM

SIMI VALLEY -- Marine Lance Cpl. Juan C. Venegas was killed in combat in Iraq, officials announced Friday. He was the fourth Simi Valley serviceman killed in action since the war began.

Los Angeles Daily News

Simi Marine killed in Iraq

By Angie Valencia-Martinez and Lisa Friedman
Staff Writers

Saturday, April 09, 2005 - SIMI VALLEY -- Marine Lance Cpl. Juan C. Venegas was killed in combat in Iraq, officials announced Friday. He was the fourth Simi Valley serviceman killed in action since the war began.

Venegas, a scout sniper on his second tour of duty, died Thursday in a vehicle accident during combat operations in the Al Anbar province. He is the 1,538th military member to die in the war.

Those who knew Venegas described him as the much-beloved oldest child who was a role model to his four sisters. Venegas joined the Marines two years ago over the objections of his mother.

"There are not enough words to describe him that could match up to him," said his fiancee, Mariam Khoury, 23, fighting back tears. "He's one of those people you call perfect."

In letters home, he never mentioned the raging battle around him or the constant threat of death. Instead, he would assure his parents and four sisters that he was fine.

"Go to school. Clean the house. Stay out of trouble," he gently reminded his sisters. "But most importantly, listen to Mom."

"He had so much love and respect for his mom and wanted nothing but the best for his sisters, family and friends," Khoury said.

In the Marines, the 2003 graduate of Simi Valley High School was one of a small group counted on to clear the way for his unit with advanced reconnaissance work, a Marine spokesman said. He was a skilled leader who earned top marks in performance reviews.

But he also dreamed of returning home to become a firefighter and pursue boxing.

His sister, Erica Venegas, 19, said she was home alone on Thursday when uniformed Marines knocked on the family's apartment door to deliver the news.

"As soon as I opened the door, I wanted to close it," she said. "He is like no other. There is a lot of shock around here, disbelief, anger."

The news hit especially hard in Simi Valley, which will fly its flags at half-staff on Monday. The city has already buried three casualties of the Iraq war.

Army Spc. Michael A. Diraimondo, 22, was killed Jan. 8. 2004; Marine Cpl. Christopher A. Gibson, 23, died April 22, 2004; and Navy medic John Daniel House, 28, along with 20 Marines, was killed on Jan. 26, 2005, when their helicopter crashed.

"It seems like we are doing more than our fair share of people losing their lives," said Mayor Paul Miller. "It brings the war home to all of us; it's no longer in a faraway land. It's personal and local."

Staff Writer Rachel Uranga contributed to this report.

Angie Valencia-Martinez, (805) 583-7604 angie.valencia@dailynews.com
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It's the left that makes light of this man's sacrifice

by Sgt. Wynn Monday, Apr. 11, 2005 at 6:15 PM

Lance Cpl. Venegas died for a cause greater than himself: liberating enslaved serfs from brutal tyrants.

The left claims this an unworthy goal. That's why they're out of power, hopefully for good.
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too bad

by Sheepdog Monday, Apr. 11, 2005 at 6:21 PM

This lad could have lived but for the lies we have just read by people who never spent a fraction of a second under fire.
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psssst... have some respect

by more rational Tuesday, Apr. 12, 2005 at 12:20 AM

Sarge should chill out with the left-bashing.

It's like arguing at a funeral.
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Ventura County Star Article

by DJ Tuesday, Apr. 12, 2005 at 2:13 PM

Ventura County Star ...
juan_venegas.jpg, image/jpeg, 140x209

Ventura County Star

Accident in Iraq Kills Simi Marine

'He was unstoppable to me,' sister says; city has lost 4 in war

By Brandon Mackey, bmackey@VenturaCountyStar.com
April 10, 2005

A Simi Valley Marine known as a "classic gentleman" and the pillar of his family has become the city's fourth fatality of the Iraq war.

Marine Lance Cpl. Juan C. Venegas, 21, was killed Thursday in a vehicle accident in Iraq's Anbar province, according to Department of Defense officials. The news of his death hit his family hard.

"He was unstoppable to me, like a machine. I really looked up to him," said Venegas' 19-year-old sister, Erica.

Besides Erica, Venegas leaves behind his parents, Maria and Juan; and sisters, Katie, 14, Emely, 10, and Brianna, 7, all of Simi Valley.

"He looked after us and cared for us like a parent," Erica said. "I always thought about what he might say before I did something."

Erica was the first to learn of her brother's death Thursday morning, when a uniformed Marine knocked on the door.

"I told everyone he knew, and no one wanted to accept it," she said.

About 20 family members and friends gathered Saturday afternoon to say the rosary in Spanish in Venegas' parents' apartment. His fiancee of two years, Mariam Khoury, 23, of North Hills, was among the mourners.

"He wanted the perfect wedding for us," she said, noting they hadn't yet set a date for the event. "With us it was beyond love; we were soulmates."

They met in 2003 through friends. Venegas was already enlisted.

"He was the best person anyone could possibly be. Respectful and caring, a classic gentleman, and he never changed," Khoury said.

He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, in Twentynine Palms.

At the time of his death, Venegas was on his second tour of duty in Iraq. During his first tour, he was involved in combat in Fallujah as a scout sniper.

He was attached to Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force in Iraq.

"We knew where he was and what was going on, but he never brought that up when speaking to us," Khoury said. "He always kept the military and his family and friends separate."

Although Khoury had no objection to Venegas being in the military, his mother was very much opposed to the idea, especially during wartime, Erica Venegas said.

"I supported his decision. He had always been interested in the military and was excited about enlisting," Erica said.

She recalled that, as a child, Juan would spend hours playing with the scope on his pellet rifle to get his shot perfect.

"Little things like that remind me of how he was dedicated to what he loved," she said.

According to his sister, Venegas had planned to become a firefighter when he returned. He also dreamed of becoming a professional boxer.

Venegas is the fourth Simi Valley resident to die in Iraq. Army Spc. Michael A. DiRaimondo, 22, died Jan. 8, 2004; Marine Cpl. Christopher A. Gibson, 23, died April 22, 2004; and Navy medic John Daniel House, 28, died Jan. 26.

Barbara Hatton, interim principal of Simi Valley High School, said Venegas' name will join those of other fallen soldiers from the school on a plaque encased in glass in the school library. The names stretch back to World War II and Vietnam.

"This is our third graduate that we have lost in the Iraq war," she said. "It's just so sad --for his family, for our school and the community."

Hatton, like others, was at a loss to explain why Simi Valley has had a number of residents killed or seriously wounded in combat.

She couldn't say how many graduating students enlist each year but said military recruiters aggressively seek students at all three of Simi Valley's high schools.

"This is a very patriotic community," she said.

Simi Valley Mayor Paul Miller said flags will be lowered to half-staff Monday.

"We're very saddened, and our condolences go out to the family. It's not something you like to see," said Miller

The city's next council meeting will adjourn in his memory, and a certificate will be sent to the family, Miller said.

-- Staff writer Kevin Clerici contributed to this report.

Copyright 2005, Ventura County Star. All Rights Reserved.
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Funeral Info

by DJ Thursday, Apr. 14, 2005 at 11:07 AM

Ventura County Star

Services planned for Simi Valley Marine
April 13, 2005

A visitation and funeral have been scheduled for a Simi Valley Marine killed last week in an accident in Iraq.

The visitation for Juan Venegas, 21, will take place from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Reardon Simi Valley Mortuary, 2636 Sycamore Drive.

The funeral will take place at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Rose of Lima Church, 1305 Royal Ave. A burial at Assumption Cemetery will follow. The cemetery is at 1380 Fitzgerald Road.

Venegas died Thursday in a vehicle crash in Iraq's Anbar province. He is the fourth member of the military from Simi Valley to die in the war.

Copyright 2005, Ventura County Star. All Rights Reserved.
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Funeral Update

by DJ Saturday, Apr. 16, 2005 at 7:56 PM

Funeral time changed for Marine from area
April 14, 2005

The funeral for a Simi Valley Marine killed in Iraq last week has been changed from 11 a.m. to 10 a.m. Monday.

The funeral for Juan Venegas, 21, will be in St. Rose of Lima Church, 1305 Royal Ave. Burial will follow at Assumption Cemetery, 1380 Fitzgerald Road.

A visitation is still set for 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Reardon Simi Valley Mortuary, 2636 Sycamore Drive.
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Funeral Report

by DJ Tuesday, Apr. 19, 2005 at 12:28 PM

Hundreds mourn Simi Marine

Stephanie Hoops, shoops@VenturaCountyStar.com

April 18, 2005

Under a gray sky, Marine Lance Cpl. Juan C. Venegas was laid to rest this morning, just feet from where two other Simi Valley troops, Army Spc. Michael A. DiRaimondo and Marine Cpl. Christopher A. Gibson, were buried at Simi Valley's Assumption Catholic Cemetery.

Genene Overland, a mortuary staff member, shook her head as she stood outside the ring of several hundred people who'd gathered to pay their respects. This is the third military burial they've had in the last year, but Overland is not getting used to them.

"They're so young," she said of the men who've been returned from Iraq to be buried there.

Venegas' funeral was rendered with military honors, the traditional bugle playing "Taps" and a flag-folding and presentation to Venegas' mother, Maria. After the ceremony, she collapsed, sobbing on her son's coffin as the crowd began to disperse.

"It's a sad affair," said Wayne Wright, post chaplain of the Veterans of Foreign Wars post 10049.

Venegas, 21, was killed earlier this month during a vehicle crash in Anbar province. He was the fourth person from Simi Valley to die fighting in the war in Iraq, and the eighth with ties to Ventura County.

2005 © The E.W. Scripps Co
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