CORONA, CA, US
U.S. Army
SSG, CO A, 2ND BN, 12TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 4TH BCT, FT CARSON, COLORADO
02/20/2010, CHAPA DARA, KUNAR PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN
Michael David Prieto Cardenaz (“Big Chile”) is coming home to his favorite place, Corona, CA. He was killed in combat in Kunar, Afganistan on February 20, 2010 while serving as a Staff Sergeant for the U.S. Army for the past 12 years.
Michael was born March 31, 1980 in Corona, CA. “Big Chile” as his friends and family knew him, was an avid Dodger Fan, loved fishing, listening to music, driving around to new places and making people laugh.
Michael David P. Cardenaz of Corona, Calif. was killed Saturday when his unit was attacked with rocket-propelled grenades.
Twenty-seven-year-old Private First Class J.R. Salvacion died Sunday of wounds he suffered in an attack with an improvised explosive device. He was from Ewa Beach, Hawaii.
Both were serving in units within the 4th Brigade Combat Team. Their deaths bring the total of Fort Carson soldiers killed in either Iraq or Afghanistan to 300.
Cardenaz was 29 and deployed to Afghanistan in June. He previously served two deployments in Iraq and two in the Balkans. His decorations include the Soldier&Sailors Medal, the Bronze Star and the Army Commendation Medal for Valor.
Michael is survived by his wife of 7 years, Macarena; 5 children, Jason, Jasmine, Mariella, Mariliz and Marianna; parents, Miguel and Rosellen Cardenaz; 3 sisters, Priscilla, Sandra and Monica; brother, Steven; many aunts, uncles, and cousins; 1 niece and 1 nephew
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