California’s War Dead

    Abraham D. Pena Medina, 32

    Army, Staff Sergeant
    Baghdad (near Sadr City), Iraq
    Gender: Male
    Hometown: Los Angeles
    When the mortars come, we hug the ground and I laugh.
    — Abraham J. Pena Medina, letter to a friend

    Pena Medina joined the Army in 1991 to have a better life, the Chicago Tribune reported. His friend Elizabeth Bustamante remembered him as a cheerful man who loved country-western dancing. He used laughter, she said, in part because his early years had been so hard.
    Times obituary
    Abraham Pena Medina's gravesite information
    « Adam W. Estep, 04/29/2004
    Patrick D. Tillman, 04/22/2004 »
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    Seven memories of Abraham D. Pena Medina

    When most of us in high school talked about going to college, he would say that he joined the ARMY. He even missed getting his high school diploma with all of us becasue he left for Basic Training a day before graduation. I do not remember details, but know that Pena helped Roosevelt High School JROTC program win. I was hoping to run into him one day. That will never happen. Abraham Pena R.I.P.

    — SSG Carmona, Raul
    June 23, 2008 at 3:43 p.m.
    Permalink

    Abraham,

    If tears could build a stairway
    And memories were a lane
    We would walk right up to Heaven
    And bring you back again

    No farewell words were spoken
    No time to say goodbye
    You were gone before we knew it
    And only God knows why

    Since you'll never be forgotten
    We pledge to you today
    A hallowed place within our hearts
    Is where you'll always stay

    — your sis, elvia
    July 13, 2008 at 4:26 p.m.
    Permalink

    miss you brother
    you were my mentor

    SSG IPATZI
    BAD BOYS FOR LIFE

    — jose ipatzimendoza
    November 9, 2010 at 8:27 p.m.
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    02/26/11: Just found out through a mutual H.S> buddy that you passed away......I am truly saddened to hear this news . But I keep with me the great memories from RHS JROTC !!!! Thank you Abraham for being so awesome !!!! God Bless......

    — Adriana Ron-Mendez
    February 26, 2011 at 1:33 p.m.
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    met him at ft.hood tx bravo company 20th en bn he was one hell of good nco and an even better friend rest in peace

    — John Ferris
    April 14, 2011 at 6:12 p.m.
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    I was really small when I remember being around Javier, He and my dad were in the army together. He and Elizabeth were very good friends with my parents....when i was little, he was like a uncle.
    Rest In Peace

    — Asella Gonzaleza
    May 8, 2011 at 9:22 p.m.
    Permalink

    I was there with him that tragic day. Ssg Pena was a good guy. Just remembering my fellow Barracuda.

    — Bryan Perez
    April 28, 2012 at 8:26 a.m.
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    California's War Dead is the Los Angeles Times' collection of stories about the 700 California servicemembers and 474 others based in California who died during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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