Name: Army Spc. Marcelino R. Corniel Age: 23 From: La Puente, Calif. Assigned to the 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment, California Army National Guard, Fullerton, Calif. Incident: Army Spc. Marcelino R. Corniel was killed Dec. 31 when an enemy mortar attack occurred in the vicinity of his observation post in Baghdad.
Died:
December
31, 2005
Iraq casualty posthumously awarded Purple Heart
SANTA ANA, Calif. An Army National Guard member killed in Iraq was posthumously promoted to sergeant and will be awarded a Purple Heart, officials said Friday.
Marcelino R. Corniel, 23, of La Puente, was killed New Years Eve during a mortar attack in Baghdad. He had just five days left to serve in Iraq. He was assigned to the Army National Guards 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment, based in Fullerton in Orange County.
Corniel had served in Iraq as a Marine and joined the National Guard in June. He volunteered to go to Iraq, said Maj. Jon Siepmann of the California National Guard.
The Purple Heart is awarded to soldiers who are wounded by the enemy and can be presented posthumously to those killed in action.
Corniel also will posthumously be awarded the Bronze Star, national Defense Ribbon and Combat Infantrymans Badge.
Prayers & Condolences For: Marcelino R. Corniel BY DONNYDO on May 10, 2006
O God, by whose mercy the faithful departed find rest, look kindly on Your departed veteran who gave his life in the service of his country. Grant that through the passion, death, and resurrection of Your Son he may share in the joy of Your heavenly kingdom and rejoice in You with Your saints forever.