thedrifter
09-08-06, 08:02 PM
Marine from Seekonk dies in Iraq explosion
A 21-year-old Seekonk Marine reservist was killed by a roadside bomb in the city of Fallujah, Iraq, on Monday, Sept. 4. Lance Corporal Eric P. Valdepenas was a member of the 1st battalion, 25th Marines, also known as "New England's own," because a vast majority of its troops are New Englanders.
He was scheduled to complete his tour of duty in late October but was conducting operations against Iraqi insurgent forces on Monday when his vehicle was rocked by the explosion.
Two other soldiers, from Oklahoma and Kansas, were also killed by the explosion.
Cpl. Valdepenas was a machine gunner, providing direct support for unit patrols.
During his time with the Marines he received numerous medals, including the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, and a Purple Heart.
Cpl. Valdepenas was a 2003 graduate of Bishop Hendricken High School, a private Catholic school in Warwick, R.I. He was an honor student who took honor classes, and he excelled on the lacrosse field, serving as the lacrosse team's co-captain. In 2002, the lacrosse team won the Rhode Island state championship.
He attended the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, where he was pursuing his engineering degree until he was forced to postpone his academics to serve in Iraq.
Cpl. Valdepenas leaves his father, Dr. Jesus Bernal Valdepenas, and his mother, Anne-Marie Valdepenas, who reside in Seekonk. He has five older brothers and two older sisters.
'A Hendricken man'
On Wednesday morning, administrators at Hendricken said Cpl. Valdepenas was the type of person that Hendricken would like to have more of.
"He was a Hendricken man, and one that we're very proud of," said Brother Thomas R. Leto, the school's president. He went on to say that he admired Cpl. Valdepenas' upbeat, positive attitude.
"He had all the qualities that you would want a young person to have," he said.
Vincent Mancuso, who now serves as Hendricken's principal but was Cpl. Valdepenas' history teacher when he was a sophomore, referred to him as a "great" person.
"He was so personable. We'll always remember his smile," said Mr. Mancuso.
Mr. Mancuso also recalled that Cpl. Valdepenas always had a keen interest in world events and world issues. Speaking on behalf of the school, Mr. Mancuso said, "it was a tragedy. We're all very sad right now. Bishop Hendricken will miss him deeply as a school community."
by russell j. moore
rmoore@eastbaynewspapers.com
Ellie
A 21-year-old Seekonk Marine reservist was killed by a roadside bomb in the city of Fallujah, Iraq, on Monday, Sept. 4. Lance Corporal Eric P. Valdepenas was a member of the 1st battalion, 25th Marines, also known as "New England's own," because a vast majority of its troops are New Englanders.
He was scheduled to complete his tour of duty in late October but was conducting operations against Iraqi insurgent forces on Monday when his vehicle was rocked by the explosion.
Two other soldiers, from Oklahoma and Kansas, were also killed by the explosion.
Cpl. Valdepenas was a machine gunner, providing direct support for unit patrols.
During his time with the Marines he received numerous medals, including the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, and a Purple Heart.
Cpl. Valdepenas was a 2003 graduate of Bishop Hendricken High School, a private Catholic school in Warwick, R.I. He was an honor student who took honor classes, and he excelled on the lacrosse field, serving as the lacrosse team's co-captain. In 2002, the lacrosse team won the Rhode Island state championship.
He attended the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, where he was pursuing his engineering degree until he was forced to postpone his academics to serve in Iraq.
Cpl. Valdepenas leaves his father, Dr. Jesus Bernal Valdepenas, and his mother, Anne-Marie Valdepenas, who reside in Seekonk. He has five older brothers and two older sisters.
'A Hendricken man'
On Wednesday morning, administrators at Hendricken said Cpl. Valdepenas was the type of person that Hendricken would like to have more of.
"He was a Hendricken man, and one that we're very proud of," said Brother Thomas R. Leto, the school's president. He went on to say that he admired Cpl. Valdepenas' upbeat, positive attitude.
"He had all the qualities that you would want a young person to have," he said.
Vincent Mancuso, who now serves as Hendricken's principal but was Cpl. Valdepenas' history teacher when he was a sophomore, referred to him as a "great" person.
"He was so personable. We'll always remember his smile," said Mr. Mancuso.
Mr. Mancuso also recalled that Cpl. Valdepenas always had a keen interest in world events and world issues. Speaking on behalf of the school, Mr. Mancuso said, "it was a tragedy. We're all very sad right now. Bishop Hendricken will miss him deeply as a school community."
by russell j. moore
rmoore@eastbaynewspapers.com
Ellie