Mario K. "Kawika" De Leon, 26

Army, Sergeant

Based: Schweinfurt, Germany

1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division

Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom

Died: April 16, 2007

Baghdad (southwest area), Iraq

Married, 1 child

Gender: Male

Hometown: Petaluma

High School: Casa Grande High (Petaluma)

Burial: Pleasant Hills Memorial Park, Sebastopol, Calif.

DeLeon was known by his Hawaiian middle name, Kawika. He was born at an Army hospital; both his parents and an older brother served in the military.

Michael M. Rojas, 04/18/2007

Steven J. Walberg-Riotto, 04/15/2007

Two memories of Mario K. "Kawika" De Leon

“

I only knew Deleon through stories my son told me about him. They served in the Army together and both were from California so they had that in common. He told me that they shared the same type of personality, always joking around, smiling and laughing. He loved Deleon like a brother. I have never seen my son cry but when he read of Deleon's death, I know that he broke down. I felt helpless to comfort him but wanted to hear all the stories of the times they shared. He attended his funeral and will never forget the impact Deleon had on his life. He wears a black bracelet that bears Deleon's name daily. On this the third anniversary of his death, we pray that his wife and son are doing well. Gone but not forgotten.

” — Sharon Fuentes, April 16, 2010 at 12:14 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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Mario K. "Kawika" De Leon, 26

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Two memories of Mario K. "Kawika" De Leon