PHOTO CAPTION: Spc. Luis Enrique Tejeda, a 20-year-old soldier from Lynwood, Calif., was killed Sept. 30, 2006 during combat operations in Hit, Iraq. Tejeda was one of two soldiers from the Germany-based 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment who was recently killed during combat operations in Iraq’s western Al Anbar Province. Photo by: Sgt. Roe F. Seigle . Photo ID: 2006108105556. Submitting Unit: 1st Marine Division. Photo Date:10/04/2006

Baumholder community bids final farewell to a friend and hero

By Steve Mraz, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Friday, October 13, 2006

BAUMHOLDER, Germany — The unanswered roll call. The firing of volleys. The playing of taps.

Once again, those somber sounds fell upon the Baumholder community.

On Thursday afternoon, the tight-knit community that is home to the 1st Armored Division’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team bid farewell to Army Cpl. Luis E. Tejeda in a memorial ceremony.

Tejeda, a Bradley fighting vehicle driver with the Company A, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, died Sept. 30 from injuries received during a roadside bomb blast in Hit, Iraq.

The native of Lynwood, Calif., passed away almost a month before he turned 21.

Known as “TJ,” Tejeda will be remembered for his infectious smile, his friends said. Pfc. Dannie C. Cooper, a one-time roommate of Tejeda, expressed condolences to the fallen soldier’s family.

“His youth, his love of life, his laughter and smile were taken from them, from us — his friends, his comrades,” Cooper said. “TJ will always be missed and remembered as a hero and a friend.”

While living together, Cooper and Tejeda would often talk fondly about their families and going home.

“He wanted to go back home to California,” Cooper said. “TJ, you’re finally home.”

A roadside bomb struck Tejeda’s Bradley while he was traveling to relieve fellow soldiers at a checkpoint. The mission Tejeda was on gave Iraqi and American forces the opportunity to search for weapons, contraband and insurgents.

The enemy targets Bradley fighting vehicles because they know what the armored machine can do in battle, said Cpt. Tony L. Thornton, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, rear detachment commander.

“I honor Corporal Tejeda for his competence and courage to drive and be responsible for such a target,” Thornton said. “On 30 September 2006, Corporal Tejeda paid the ultimate sacrifice for his country, his unit and his brothers-in-arms.”

Tejeda was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge. He is survived by his wife, Alondra, and his parents, Sergio Zuniga and Liliana Tejeda.

Baumholder has held about a dozen memorial ceremonies this year as its soldiers have been serving in Iraq, and the Baumholder soldiers are nearing the end of their deployment. Maj. Jeanine White, 2nd Brigade rear detachment commander, spoke directly to the community that has had to deal with the losses this year.

“Our soldiers are a remarkable lot,” she said. “… We must continue to be strong until they are safely home.”

© 2006 Stars and Stripes. All Rights Reserved.

HIT, Iraq(Oct. 7, 2006) -- U.S. soldiers serving in the city of Hit, Iraq, gathered to pay final respects to two fallen comrades who were killed in action just one day apart.

More than 100 soldiers gathered in separate ceremonies Oct. 4 and 6, 2006, along with Marines, sailors and airmen, to honor Spc. Luis Enrique Tejeda, a 20-year-old from Lynwood, Calif., and Army Sgt. Mario Nelson, a 26-year-old from Brooklyn, N.Y., respectively.

Both soldiers were killed during combat operations in Iraq’s western Al Anbar Province – Tejeda Sept. 30, Nelson Oct. 1.

Both soldiers were assigned to the Friedburg, Germany-based 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment, which has provided security here since February.

The battalion is attached to Regimental Combat Team 7, the Marine Corps command responsible for providing security to more than 30,000 square miles of Iraq’s western Al Anbar Province.

Both soldiers were members of 1-36’s Alpha Company.

Tejeda and Nelson were the battalion’s fourth and fifth soldiers killed in action since the unit arrived in Iraq earlier this year.

Nelson was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and enlisted in the New York Army National Guard in January 1999. Shortly after Sept. 11, 2001, he joined the Army’s active duty ranks.

“Sgt. Nelson excelled at everything he did in life,” said Sgt. 1st Class Mitchell Brown, Nelson’s platoon sergeant, during Nelson’s memorial service. “He was an amazing soldier, a superb (noncommissioned officer), a true warrior, and a great man. He died guarding the soldiers he loved.”

Tejeda was a graduate of Bell Senior High School and joined the Army in July 2004 when he was 18.

“Spc. Tejeda was an outstanding soldier; (he) was always motivated and willing to do whatever it took to get the job done, said Army Capt. Thomas Kucik, Tejeda’s company commander. “He was loved and respected by every soldier in this company.”

The fallen soldiers’ memories were represented during the hour-long ceremonies with Kevlar helmets set atop rifles stuck bayonet-first into a wooden pedestal and adorned with dog tags, combat boots, personal medals and a folded American flag.

A portrait of each fallen soldier was featured on their respective memorials.

A bullet-pocked wall provided a background behind the memorials. Soldiers stood beside the pedestal and recounted personal memories of their fallen comrades.

Both were remembered for their bravery on the battlefield and selfless service.

Nelson spotted most of the roadside bombs in the platoon and saved the lives of the soldiers by doing so, said Brown.

“His dedication to duty was something all here should aspire to,” said Brown during the memorial. “I have never met a better NCO or soldier. His soldiers knew that when Sgt. Nelson was there, everything would be OK.”

Spc. Rodrigo Gomez with Alpha Company attended middle school with Tejeda, affectionately known as “T.J.,” and recounted how Tejeda always made his fellow soldiers laugh.

“Today we are not only here to remember T.J. as a hard-working and motivated soldier, we are also here to remember him as a friend,” said Gomez during Tejeda’s memorial service. “He was loved by everybody.”

During each ceremony, the fallen were honored with a 21-gun salute. Army 1st Sgt. Flynn Broady, Alpha Company’s senior enlisted advisor, gave the final role, reading off last names of the company’s soldiers.

When he called out the fallen soldiers’ names, there was no response. Fellow soldiers fought back tears as Broady called out “Nelson!” and “Tejeda!” at their respective memorial service.

Since December of last year, 1-36 has provided security in Hit, a city of 50,000 in the western Al Anbar Province, where arguably some of the fiercest fighting takes place. The soldiers face small-arms fire and IED attacks daily.

After the playing of “Taps,” every soldier, Marine, airman and sailor stood in line to stand in front of the pedestal and pay final respects to the fallen soldiers. Many kneeled before the pedestal and shed tears while touching the pair of boots or dog tags.

The battalion, also known as “Task Force 1-36,” was recently extended for six more weeks of duty in Iraq.

E-mail Sgt. Seigle at seiglemf@gcemnf-wiraq.usmc.mil

PHOTO CAPTION:
A Kevlar helmet, M4 Carbine rifle, military dog tags and two medals – the Bronze Star and Purple Heart – were several items used to represent the memorial of Spc. Luis Enrique Tejeda during a memorial service Oct. 4, 2006, in Hit, Iraq. Photo by: Sgt. Roe F. Seigle
Photo ID: 200610810529. Submitting Unit: 1st Marine Division. Photo Date:10/04/2006

10/20/2006 GAAS:770:06 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Governor Schwarzenegger Issues Statement on Death of Huntington Park Soldier: Cpl. Luis E. Tejeda

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today released the following statement regarding the death of Cpl. Luis E. Tejeda of Huntington Park:

“Today, we add Cpl. Tejeda to the honor roll of fallen soldiers who valiantly served our country. Maria and I join with Californians in mourning the loss of this courageous individual. Our prayers are with Luis’ family during this painful time.”

Tejeda, 20, died Sept. 30 as a result of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations in Hit, Iraq. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany.

In honor of Cpl. Tejeda, Capitol flags will be flown at half-staff.

© 2006 State of California

I belong to a group called Loving Hands Quilters in Lodi, California. We have tried to locate Cpl Luis E. Tejeda's family so that we can send them a memorial quilt in order of their son.
Any information as to where to send the quilt would be appreciated.
Carol

Why does the staff allow "taged" threads to be used over and over again for disruptive spam and pornography?
Why not "freeze" these rat bastards once they find a thread to victimize?
The desecration of our dead military personal posted by 'DJ' by the same rat bastards who egged this war on and now harass this site, is particularly disgusting.