Caption for first photo: Jennifer Salcido, 29, hugs the American flag after Major General William Wade II presents it to her during the funeral service of her husband Sergeant 1st Class Rudy A. Salcido at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside November 21, 2006. Salcido was killed November 9th in Iraq while serving in the war. (Thomas R. Cordova/Staff Photographer)

Newlywed soldier laid to rest

Family remembers Ontario serviceman killed in Iraq

Jennifer McLain, Staff Writer
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

NORCO - The last time San Dimas resident Peter Salcido spoke to his son Rudy, who was serving in Iraq, was Nov. 8.

While they talked about the things they always did - working out and family - Peter felt he wanted to tell him something more.

But like all of his conversations with Rudy, he ended it with: "I love you, son. Be careful."

Rudy, as always, replied: "I love you, too, Pops."

The next day, the Ontario resident was killed after a roadside bomb exploded near his convoy vehicle in Baghdad.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Rudy Salcido was 31.

At the soldier's funeral Tuesday, Peter Salcido continued his conversation with his son at Church on the Hill in Norco.

"Rudy, my son, I will miss you so much," he said. "You had so much energy, so much passion."

Salcido enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2000 and served as an ammunitions specialist until 2005.

Two months after returning from Iraq, Salcido enlisted in the California National Guard in May 2005, and later volunteered to transfer to the 1114th Transportation Company out of Bakersfield so he could be deployed to Iraq.

"He was a man's man from the beginning," cousin Joseph Tolle told hundreds of family members, friends and military personnel gathered Tuesday.

Family members remembered Salcido as a man whose passion for the Army led to his third tour in Iraq.

"I would like to thank Rudy Salcido," Tolle said, "for sacrificing his life for the betterment of his family, wife, child, country and God."

Salcido went to Iraq the last time in July, just three days after getting married.

"My son was a soldier," Peter Salcido said. "He died doing what he loved so we could live free from oppression."

After the church service, attendees were escorted to the Riverside National Cemetery, where Salcido was honored further for his service.

Officials presented Salcido's family with six awards, including the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

"He was a brave man," Peter Salcido said, "and I could not be prouder."

Salcido is survived by his mother and stepfather, Maybelle and Anthony Luevano; father and stepmother, Peter and Kathy Salcido; wife, Jennifer; and daughter, Gabriella, 14.

Salcido is the 21st soldier from the Inland Valley who has been killed in Afghanistan or Iraq. As of Tuesday, 2,866 soldiers have died in the war, according to the Department of Defense.

Jennifer McLain can be reached by e-mail at jennifer.mclain@sgvn.com or by phone at (626) 962-8811, Ext. 2477.

Copyright © 2006 Los Angeles Newspaper Group

Joey Luevano, 8, salutes an American flag as he walks with his grandparents during a funeral service for his brother Sergeant 1st Class Rudy A. Salcido at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside November 21, 2006. Salcido was killed November 9th in Iraq while serving in the war. (Thomas R. Cordova/Staff Photographer)

Peter Salcido comforts his daughter-in-law Jennifer Salcido, 29, while Taps is played at the funeral service of her husband Sergeant 1st Class Rudy A. Salcido at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside November 21, 2006. Salcido was killed November 9th in Iraq while serving in the war. (Thomas R. Cordova/Staff Photographer)

The casket of Sergeant 1st Class Rudy A. Salcido enters the Church on the Hill in Norco November 21, 2006. Salcido was killed November 9th in Iraq while serving in the war. (Thomas R. Cordova/Staff Photographer)

A bagpiper leads the casket of Sergeant 1st Class Rudy A. Salcido at Riverside national Cemetery in Riverside November 21, 2006. Salcido was killed November 9th in Iraq while serving in the war. (Thomas R. Cordova/Staff Photographer)

The cousin of Sergeant 1st Class Rudy A. Salcido, Joseph Tolle holds up Salcido's brother, Joey Luevano, during a funeral service for Salcido at the Church on the Hill in Norco November 21, 2006. Salcido was killed November 9th in Iraq while serving in the war. (Thomas R. Cordova/Staff Photographer)

Jennifer Salcido, 29, hugs the American flag after it was presented to her during the funeral service of her husband Sergeant 1st Class Rudy A. Salcido at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside November 21, 2006. Salcido was killed November 9th in Iraq while serving in the war. (Thomas R. Cordova/Staff Photographer)

Medals of honor are presented to family members of Sergeant 1st Class Rudy A. Salcido, father Peter Salcido, wife Jennifer Salcido, 29, and mother Maybelle Luevano at the funeral service for Sergeant 1st class Rudy A. Salcido at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside November 21, 2006. Salcido was killed November 9th in Iraq while serving in the war. (Thomas R. Cordova/Staff Photographer)

Family and friends gather for Sergeant 1st Class Rudy A. Salcido who's funeral service was held at the Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside November 21, 2006. Salcido was killed November 9th in Iraq while serving in the war. (Thomas R. Cordova/Staff Photographer)

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I am Rudy A. Salcido's mother. I am also Joey Luevano's mother----not his grandmother. The picture is awesome. I had respectfully asked this reporter to get her facts straight before publishing them, but alas.......

I served with Rudy in 2004 and he was the best NCO I have worked with. He loved his family and I am a better person for knowing him. God bless his family and know that Heaven is a better place knowing Rudy is there.

My deepest sympathy

CW3 Barry Speer

I served with Rudy in 2004 and he was the best NCO I have worked with. He loved his family and I am a better person for knowing him. God bless his family and know that Heaven is a better place knowing Rudy is there.

My deepest sympathy

CW3 Barry Speer

Hey
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? Do they even care? 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.

Since the collective here at LA IMC wont do anything about it, I think it's time to say this about that.
Why do the zionist assholes who were here like lice to promote this war now assault this newswire? Spamming with porn and the myriad [ Johny Wizzard, Bobby Meade, and all the other helpings of spam from the same author[s] to garbage this site ] BW eating posts, while the collective's activities are engaged in covering useless peace marches while this IMC is trashed.
Why not just close this newswire up?
Instead of allowing this garbage and worse to foul the work of serious journalism? Who's side is this particular collective on?
Not mine.

Yup. still at it.
Collective narcosis?
Do they even care?
by Christophor Saturday, Mar. 29, 2008 at 6:41 AM
by Christophor • Saturday, Mar. 29, 2008 at 5:14 AM
by Billy • Friday, Mar. 28, 2008 at 7:10 PM
by Nick • Tuesday, Mar. 25, 2008 at 5:43 PM
by Jason • Monday, Mar. 24, 2008 at 2:26 AM
by Christophor • Sunday, Mar. 23, 2008 at 6:29 PM
by Johanna • Saturday, Mar. 22, 2008 at 9:22 AM
by Karen • Thursday, Mar. 20, 2008 at 9:23 AM
...
and on and on with this despicable disrespect for the victims; as is usual for these rat bastard zionists.

The boy in that photo is me...
wearing my suit that my brother Rudy a. Salcido sent me from over seas....
I wore them in order to salute his self rightousess and the amarican dream
-joseph D. Salcido