California’s War Dead

    Juan C. Venegas

    Juan C. Venegas, 21

    Marines, Lance Corporal
    Fallouja, Iraq
    Gender: Male
    Hometown: Simi Valley
    He was like a machine. He would just keep going. He carried a backpack filled with potatoes when he went running, for extra weight. He would go nonstop at the basketball games. Everyone else would get tired, but he wouldn't.
    — Erica Venegas, sister

    Venegas saw the Marine Corps as a place where he could excel in activities that would stretch his limits. He was in a hurry to graduate from high school so he could join.
    Times obituary
    « Casey M. LaWare, 04/09/2005
    Glenn J. Watkins, 04/05/2005 »
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    Three memories of Juan C. Venegas

    1976 Simi Valley High School mid term Grad. Thank you for the ultimate sacrifice so that the people in America can continue living free. There are alot of people in this country that have no clue, respect or honor for those like you that paid the ultimate price to live the way that we do in America. Living free is not free, it comes at a very high price. You payed that price for the Country you loved. Although I never knew you Juan, I thank you and honor you. God Bless you, Ronald Weber
    PS. Parent of a US Marine

    — ronald weber
    June 10, 2009 at 2:54 p.m.
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    Met him once briefly right before his deployment. His fiance introduced me to him. I had met his fiance thru marineparents. She talked so much about him. They were truly in love. My husband was also deployed with him in the same unit. It hit hard when I found out. Felt so bad for his fiance and family. May he rest in peace. We honor you today and always.

    — oddie
    November 12, 2010 at 7:59 p.m.
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    Juan you will never be forgotten. I thank you for being part of my childhood and all the great memories I have of you. We all miss you!

    — Oralia castro
    January 19, 2012 at 7:19 a.m.
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    Sources: Times research, Defense Department, iCasualties.org
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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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