U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Aaron Nathaniel Cepeda Sr., was born in San Antonio, Texas,
on July 6, 1982. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve on Nov. 5, 1999, at the
Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) in San Antonio. He shipped to recruit
training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, Calif., on Jan. 10, 2000, and
graduated as a private first class on April 7, 2000.
After graduation, he reported to the School of Infantry at Marine Corps Base Camp
Pendleton, Calif., for Marine Combat Training (MCT). Following completion of MCT, he
attended Food Service Specialist School at Fort Lee, Va., on July 13, 2000.
Sgt. Cepeda then reported to Headquarters and Service Company, 4th Reconnaissance
Battalion, in San Antonio on July 15, 2000.
After being activated in January 2005, he completed pre-deployment training at the
Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center at Twentynine Palms, Calif. He then deployed
to Iraq in March as a member of the 4th Reconnaissance Battalion detachment that was
attached to Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines, out of Brookpark, Ohio.
Sgt. Cepeda’s personal awards are the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Selected Marine Corps Reserve
Medal, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Mobilization Device.
Sgt. Cepeda was killed on May, 7, 2005 by enemy action while conducting combat
operations in Anbar province in Iraq. We have members of Aaron’s family joining us
today:
Son - Aaron Nathaniel Cepeda Jr.
Daughter - Journee Bre- Kayleen Cepeda
Surviving Spouse - Ella Cepeda
Mother - Diana Cepeda
Father – Michael Cepeda
Aunt - Yolanda Perez
Godfather - Rudy Alvarez
Cousins - Eder Tellez, Kimberly Mata, Kaylee Rios, Trina Guerrero, Thomas Rodriguez
Cousin and Goddaughter - Amby Mendiola
Aunts – Linda Guerrero, Rebecca Mata, Debra Mata
Uncle – Art Mata
Brother in Law – Darren Anguiano
Sister in Law – Autumn Anguiano
USMC – Gunney Sgt. Joe Sepulveda and his wife Bernice
USMC – Aaron Andrade, Omar Reyes
Family Member - Sylvia DeLaCruz
We also have faculty and staff from Sinclair Elementary who are here to support Ella
and her family.