The Marine Corps may have my body, but you'll always have my heart.
    — Carlos Pineda, in a letter to his wife she received after his death

    Pineda was born in El Salvador and came to the U.S. as a child. He was in the process of becoming a citizen. Pineda was rescuing casualties when he was shot and killed. He'd previously served in Afghanistan and extended his service to stay with his unit when it went to Iraq.
     Permalink  Delicious  Digg  Facebook  Twitter

    15 memories of Carlos Pineda

    Compadre, en tu memoria!!

    — Carlos Pineda
    December 30, 2008 at 1 p.m.

    Que dios lo tenga en su santa gloria

    — Victor
    May 29, 2009 at 1:02 a.m.

    Mr. Pineda,

    I used to work with you at mc'donalds years back. when I saw your picture on here I wasn't sure that it was really you, I had to really dig deep in my head but after seeing your picture about 20 different times, I know for sure its you.
    Im verry sorry that you are no longer with your family but saying that doesn't change anything. I wanna thank you for everything you sacrificed. we didn't hang out much outside of work but we had enough crazy moments at work causing trouble to have a little fun.

    RIP - MR.PINEDA

    an old friend,
    Chris Zambrano

    — christopher zambrano
    August 17, 2009 at 2:19 p.m.

    Thank you for serving our country. My family thanks your family.

    — Rafael E Pineda
    February 15, 2010 at 12:08 p.m.

    Carlos...i am still lost for words after 5 years i still cant believe it.I will always remember you as one of my best friends and a great partner from the explorer program.From all of us who know you,we love and miss you bro.And thank you for defending our country.i am very thankful for it.

    — Joe Trujillo
    November 10, 2010 at 2:09 p.m.

    Thank you for making the ultimate and selfless sacrafice for our country. You will always be remembered.

    — Mario Jovel
    November 11, 2010 at 9:31 p.m.

    To Carlos. We never met but we are from the same home town of East Los. I came upon your story while reading the paper. I would like to thank you and your family for the sacrafice you made. "So others may live".

    — Pete Macen
    November 11, 2010 at 9:50 p.m.

    There is no greater gift a man can give than to lay down his life for his country.

    R.I.P. brother...

    — Sonny Peterson
    November 18, 2010 at 5:51 a.m.

    Our friend

    — Diaz
    December 12, 2010 at 7:46 p.m.

    Damn Cheese can't believe its been five years that you've been gone. just sitting here thinking about all the stupid crazy things we used to do. you and Bobby were my best friends. just know your memory lives in us always RIP Big Cheese

    — Danny Alcaraz
    December 19, 2010 at 6:06 p.m.

    Never met you Carlos but knowing that you were born in El Salvador makes you a brave man. RIP

    — Harrison PARKER
    January 6, 2011 at 9:44 p.m.

    I did not know you verry well but you have the same name as me. so i thoght id pay my respects. i my self am joining the marines, when i found his it toched me in places i never knew i had rest in peace fellow marine.....

    — Carlos Pineda
    March 8, 2011 at 9:46 a.m.

    Dear carlos, We haven't forgotten you your always in our thoughts and happy birthday I miss you carlos!!

    — Roxanne Hidalgo
    March 20, 2011 at 12:43 p.m.

    Dear Marine,
    I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for saving my life that day. Thank you for serving out Country and making the ultimate sacrifice. I know you and the other Marines are guarding the Heavens gates. Semper Fi my brother you are never forgotten.

    — Alisha Harding
    May 7, 2011 at 10:51 a.m.

    I miss you buddy... RIP Cheese

    — Tim "Doc" Newman
    June 23, 2011 at 11:15 p.m.

    Share a memory of Carlos

    :
      Required
    :
      Optional
    :
    Email addresses are not republished or used for marketing purposes.
    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.

    Find a Profile

    Search a last name

    Select a name

    The complete list »
    About the Data Desk

    This page was created by the Data Desk, a team of reporters and Web developers at The Times.