Esau I. De la Pena-Hernandez, 25

Army, Staff Sergeant

Based: Ft. Drum, N.Y.

2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division

Supporting: Operation Enduring Freedom

Died: May 15, 2009

Chak, Afghanistan

Married

Gender: Male

Hometown: La Puente

High School: La Puente High (La Puente)

Foreign Country of Birth: Mexico

Known as Esau to his immediate family, Ivan to family friends and “De La” to his military buddies, De La Peña was born in Mexico City and came to the U.S. as a teenager. He had served with the Marines before joining the Army in 2006. When he was killed, he was on his fourth combat tour, family members said. He and another soldier died after their unit was attacked with small-arms fire while on foot patrol in Chak in Wardak province, southwest of Kabul.

Jason E. George, 05/21/2009

Steven Hutchison, 05/10/2009

31 memories of Esau I. De la Pena-Hernandez

“

I am so happy and honored to have met Esau, a true American hero. I saw him as a younger brother when I met him back in 1997. He was so good, humble and friendly.I had the privilege and honor to help him get introduced to the LDS church, and to see him becoming a member of the church was one of happiest times in my life. I remember playing soccer with him and have some good memories of us talking and sharing good times both at his home and at church. He was very kind, cordial and had a wonderful brotherly love aura around him. I surely felt that whenever I spoke to him. He was and is a great man and I do not doubt he was a great leader among his peers. My condolensces are to his family, whom I have in my heart. I know he is in God's arms and will be remembered forever. At least I will...

” — Cesar E Guillen, May 28, 2009 at 6:01 p.m.

“

yo no te pude conocer pero por lo ke me kuentan se ke ereaz un super chavo yo a toda la gente ke forma parte de mi familia la kiero aunke no la conozca se ke donde estes tu estas feliz por todo lo ke hiciste durante tu vida recuerda ke aqui en la tierra nunca te vamos a olvida y espero que tu no nos olvides por favor siempre cuidanos.
esau morira cuando ya nadie lo recuerde asi que si queremos que siga vivo hay que reordarlo dia con dia y hay que pensar que solo esta de viaje y que algun dia lo volveremos a encontrar para reirnos de todo =) siempre sonrie y nunca llores es muy feo
cuando naces lloras, y el mundo rie, vive de tal manera que cuando mueras rias y el mundo llore. =) =(

” — andrea su prima, October 25, 2009 at 4:31 p.m.

Search by: Age, Base, Branch, Cemetery, Date of Death, Country of Birth, Gender, High School, Hometown, Marital Status, Name, Number of Children, Theater of Operation, Place of Death

Sources: Times research, Defense Department, iCasualties.org

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Esau I. De la Pena-Hernandez, 25

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31 memories of Esau I. De la Pena-Hernandez