Hundreds Gather in Temecula to Honor, Mourn Fallen Marine

TEMECULA, CA - Public respects were paid Friday to a U.S. Marine from Temecula who was killed in Iraq during an Islamic State attack.

Staff Sgt. Louis F. Cardin, 27, was honored by friends, family and members of the community during a ceremony on the steps of Temecula City Hall.

Cardin's flag-draped casket was brought to the location by an honor guard detail. Temecula Mayor Mike Naggar and Riverside County Supervisor Chuck Washington were among several hundred people -- including the fallen Marine's fellow leathernecks from Camp Pendleton -- who came to pay tribute.

A private burial service is scheduled Saturday at Riverside National Cemetery.

Cardin's remains were returned to Riverside County last Saturday via an Air Force cargo plane that landed at March Air Reserve Base.

The Chaparral High School alum was among several hundred Marines who recently deployed to a fire support base near Makhmour, in northern Iraq, as part of Operation Inherent Resolve. The objective is to dislodge Islamic State invaders from Mosul, which is under siege by Kurdish forces.

• 'Local Hero': Community, Leaders Mourn Temecula Marine Killed in Iraq
• Public Invited to Pay Respects to Fallen Temecula Marine, Louis F. Cardin

The Department of Defense said that on Saturday, March 19, the base came under attack by ISIS, and Cardin was mortally wounded.

The artilleryman had served three tours of duty in Afghanistan before deploying to Iraq. He joined the Marine Corps in June 2006 and was attached to the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

"Cardin's service and his many important contributions will long be remembered by his fellow Marines, his teammates at United States Central Command and a grateful nation," Army Gen. Lloyd J. Austin said last week.

— By City News Service.