MOSES CARDENAS, LEFT FUHS IN HIS SR. YEAR (2000?)

Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Fullerton Marine earns Silver Star

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Council, firefighters prepare hometown-hero welcome for May 6.
By BARBARA GIASONE
The Orange County Register

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FULLERTON — Rocket-propelled grenades, a suicide bomber and heavy artillery fire left little hope Marine Lance Cpl. Moses Cardenas' platoon would survive the Iraqi insurgents advancing south of the Euphrates River on a hot August day in 2007.
Then came the unthinkable.
Cardenas's sergeant – the very man who taught him for battle – lay wounded in the open between the opposing forces.
Fullerton-bred Cardenas fought his way across 50 meters of the fire-swept desert against five armed insurgents to rescue Sgt. Randy Rodema as bullets ripped through Cardenas' neck and shoulder, according to a Marine Corp citation and Cardenas.
Despite the wounds, Cardenas reloaded his M-249 – a light machine gun – and continued his assault until he reached the wounded sergeant.
The lance corporal alternated between pulling the Marine 100 meters to safety and shooting bursts of automatic fire at the enemy until help arrived, the citation said.
For his valiant achievement, Cardenas, 21, was presented with the Silver Star – the nation's third highest award for valor during combat – in a special ceremony at Camp Pendleton on March 28.
Fullerton firefighters and the City Council will give Cardenas a hometown-hero welcome Tuesday when they host the Marine and his family at a firehouse dinner and special recognition at the 6:30 council meeting.
Reached at Camp Pendleton last week where he is training a team for upcoming duty in Iraq, Cardenas spoke of the dangers in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"When it was all happening, I wasn't worried for my life," he said. "But after I was shot, I really got to thinking of our vulnerability."
Military action has been on his mind since childhood when he lined up plastic military figures, watched military action movies and followed television shows on the Military Channel.
"I was always fascinated by the infantry lifestyle, it was always a dream," he said. "But it's a lot different than I expected – not as glamorous, and certainly more challenging."
A cousin, who was in the Marine Corps, shared war stories when Cardenas attended Orangethorpe Elementary and Nicolas Junior high schools. At Fullerton High, his interest in history and computer arts was heightened by instructors Mary Boules and Brandon Martinez, who inspired him to achieve.
In the middle of Cardenas's senior year, he moved to an aunt's house in Tucson, Ariz., where he graduated from high school.
"Let's just say there were issues at my home," he said.
He joined the Marine Corps two years ago.
"It's changed my life: more discipline, accountability, pride and responsibility," he said.
These days, he's proud to train a four-man team headed for combat in Iraq. He will be deployed with them in September.
"I have to make sure they all come back alive," he said.
Meanwhile, Sgt. Rodema has told Cardenas he will not return to Iraq.
"He said he doesn't want to risk his life again, and wants to spend more time with his family," Cardenas said.

(If anyone knows the year he would have graduated, please let Connie know.)