Fil-Am soldier killed in Iraq gets full honors from US

Reno S. Lacerna, a Philippine-born sergeant at the US army, received full military honors on his interment on Wednesday.




Lacerna was the latest Filipino-American casualty in the Iraq war. He served with the 226th Quarter Master Company, 87th Corps Support Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division based in Fort Stewart, Georgia.

In recognition of his valor and dedication, Sgt Lacerna received posthumously the Bronze Star Medal, the fourth highest US military award for gallantry in action.

Lacerna was interred at the Manila Memorial Park in Paranaque City on Wednesday.

US Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney, Brigadier General Xavier P. Lobeto, Commanding General of the 19th Sustainment Command, 8th US army and a funeral honor from US Forces Korea-United Nations Command were present along with military representatives from the US embassy in Manila to honor Sgt Lacerna and his next of kin.

Sgt Lacerna was born in Manila on April 25, 1963. He had a Bachelor of Science degree in Management and Industrial Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Hawaii.

He first joined the US army in January 1997. Upon completion of his term of active duty service in December 2003, he joined the Hawaii Army National Guard “C" Company, which was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II.

He was honorably discharged in June 2006 and six months later, returned to Iraq following re-enlistment into the US army.

He is survived by his wife Concepcion, and two sons, Iram, 13 years old and, Rencio, 12 years old; father, Augusto, and mother, Adoracion; and one brother and four sisters. - GMANews.TV

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