Junior Cedeno Sanchez dies of 'wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his position during a dismounted patrol'

A 20-year-old soldier from Miami-Dade County this week became the 37th person in the military from South Florida to die since 9-11.

Army Pfc. Junior Cedeno Sanchez was killed on Monday, Memorial Day, when a makeshift bomb detonated near his patrol in Baghdad, according to a Department of Defense statement. The soldiers were on a combat security mission in the southern section of the Iraqi capital, officials said.

Neighbors in Miami-Dade's Country Walk subdivision, Cedeno's last known residence, said the family had moved out about a month ago and returned to Puerto Rico. Attempts to reach family members there were unsuccessful.

Also killed in the blast was Staff Sgt. Thomas McFall, 36, of Glendora, Calif.

The men were assigned to the Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, out of Fort Lewis, Wash.

From the Sun Sentinel