Rick J. Centanni, 19

Marines, Lance Corporal

Based: Camp Pendleton

4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division

Supporting: Operation Enduring Freedom

Died: March 24, 2010

Helmand province, Afghanistan

Single

Gender: Male

Hometown: Yorba Linda

High School: Esperanza High (Anaheim)

Burial: Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside

Centanni was killed by a roadside bomb while on patrol in Helmand province, Afghanistan, relatives told the Orange County Register. Sergeant Major Robert J. Cottle, 45, also was killed in the explosion. Centanni was the third Esperanza High graduate to be killed while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Adam L. Perkins, 05/17/2010

Robert J. Cottle, 03/24/2010

59 memories of Rick J. Centanni

“

Words cannot express how I feel right now....From one Marine to another having attended Esperanza myself, a flurry of emotions run through my system. You chose to do something greater than yourself at the young age of 19 having filled shoes bigger than most people do in a lifetime.

While most of your peers have gone clueless and tuned themselves out of reality with drugs and reality TV you made a choice that 95% of peers your age don't and won't understand. I stand in awe to your dedication and commitment to become a MARINE when you could have taken the easy route and sat behind some desk in another service.

We always lose the good ones first and for that I am anguished. God bless you and your family. Semper Fidelis

” — KB, March 26, 2010 at 11:36 a.m.

“

To the family and friends of Lance Corporal Rick J. Centanni.

We send our most sincere sympathy for your greatest sacrifice. Rick not only lived up to the Corp values of “Honor, Courage and Commitment” for his unit and this country, but also for Himself and to his family.

Albert Einstein once said “The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it.”

We’re not sure if our boys would have understood this when they left for bootcamp, but from what we saw and felt on their graduation, they seemed to have discovered a sense of purpose. They were very confident of what they had accomplished. Our boys could have made other choices, gone to school, found a job or just “bummed” around, but they did not. Their sense of duty has taken them on this journey.

We are truly thankful for those who return home safe and are praying all those who are still serving around the world. We take comfort in thinking that our fallen heroes are now in the company of all those who have gone before them. Lcpl Rick Centanni, we salute you for your commitment. For Ricks’s family, we pray God will give you the courage to be strong for each other. We shall live to honor our fallen heroes, for they did “something about it”.

With hearts filled with sorrow for your loss.

Semper Fidelis.

Ray & Linda
A Proud 2 Blue Star Veteran Marine Family

” — Ray Larsen, March 26, 2010 at 3:03 p.m.

“

Jon...
Mitch & I are lifting you and your family up to the Lord during this time. Our hearts hurt for you, but please know through this difficult time that you can call out to the Lord, and He will comfort you. The bible tells us; "That His strength is perfect in our weakness" and "Cast all you care on Him". I pray that scripture will ease your sorrow.

Words cannot express how proud I am of your son, Rick. We too are Yorba Linda residents and have family in the military and I feel that Rick was not only a soldier, but extended Yorba Linda family.

What a wonderful son you raised... to be a defender for the USA.

We will continue to pray for you.

In Christ's perfect Love, Mitch & Denise

” — Denise Fortier, March 26, 2010 at 4:42 p.m.

“

We learned of your death here in the Stumps this past week. My husband is on duty tomorrow,so i will be making the trek to Riverside to pay our respects. He was one of the few Marines left at Del Mar last yr while my husband was in theatre who was WILLING and VOLUNTEERED to help move our 5month old daughter and me into our new house on base. i had gotten so frustrated trying to get everythign ready for my husbands arrival a week later,i started to cry while trying to put the couch cusions where they went, (which was my husbands job)he looked at me and said "step aside, i got this,no need to cry.." he was so sweet and and such a gentle soul to our daughter. My husband got in a wk later and met our munchkin and by then Rick had been assigned to 4th LAR..and i couldnt reach him to arrange a meeting between the two. to the Centanni Family, you raised one very sweet and admirable young man! And your son,my hero and my husbands brother will forever be in our hearts.

” — Bobbie Lei', April 5, 2010 at 5:57 p.m.

“

To the father of Rick J Centanni, I am sorry for your great loss. I too have an 11 year old son and can't imagine life without him, but I do know that God the creator, is watching your son now! As a father I will support my son throughout his life in any endeavor he chooses as you did with your son who chose an honorable one in the Marine Corps. My grandfather served in WWII, my uncle in Vietnam, if my son decided to go to war for his country I would be afraid for him but I would support him knowing the costs because it's a sacred one knowing that doing so impacts our freedom here and around the world. Your son exemplified this, may God bless your son and your family. Officer Berry, CTD.

” — LAPD Active, April 11, 2010 at 12:48 p.m.

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Rick J. Centanni, 19

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