Marine Lance Cpl. Raul Mercado, 21, Monrovia; Killed by Roadside Bomb By John M. Glionna, Los AngelesTimes Staff WriterThe biggest disappointment in Raul Mercado's young life was not getting into the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. After spending a decade in Mexico, his SAT verbal scores weren't high enough.Still, Mercado had big plans: He wanted a career that would enable him to buy his mother — a domestic worker at a hotel — a home in Monrovia, where he went to high school. With a 3.5 grade-point average, he was accepted at several universities. But the way to achieve his goal, he insisted, was through the military — even if it meant going to Iraq.In 2004, he enlisted in the Marine Corps, where he hoped to garner enough recommendations from superiors to get into West Point."We tried to discourage him. He had so many other options," said Erica Lopez, a longtime family friend. "But his mind was made up."Mercado was killed Jan. 7 when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle while on patrol near the village of Karmah, in the south of Iraq, near Basra. He was 21.Mercado was assigned to the 2nd Maintenance Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune, N.C. He had risen to the rank of lance corporal.A funeral service was held Wednesday at Immaculate Conception Church in Monrovia, where Mayor Rob Hammond called Mercado "one of Monrovia's heroes." Mercado is the first serviceman from Monrovia to be killed in Iraq."This was a young man whose sense of his own personal self was very strong," said Hammond, who as mayor had handed Mercado his diploma when he graduated and whose son was on the same track team as Mercado. "He was very determined. He didn't make decisions lightly. Monrovia weeps for one of its sons."The city of 40,000 residents has planned numerous memorials for Mercado. Officials named Jan. 18-25 as Raul Mercado Week, during which the flags at public buildings are being flown at half-staff. A living memorial, with artifacts from the Marine's life, will be established at a local public library, Hammond said.Mercado was born in the Los Angeles area but moved with his family to Mexico at the age of 7 to his father's town of Ixtlahuacan, near Guadalajara, in the province of Jalisco.When he was 17, family members returned to California and he enrolled in Monrovia High School as a sophomore. He initially struggled with English. But within one year he had improved to the point that he could join the school's regular curriculum.Mercado was a member of the school's Spanish Honor Society and competed in several sports. At 5 feet 11 and slender, he played basketball, track and field and was a cross-country runner. He also liked to draw and was fascinated by mathematics. Friends considered him a prankster, Lopez said.Oscar Ibarra, a college advisor at Monrovia High, recalled how hard Mercado worked on his English to score well enough on the verbal portion of the SAT to get into West Point. He was tutored and studied on weekends and late at night."That's what he had his heart set on," Ibarra said. "He was disappointed. So he saw enlisting in the Marines as a way to achieve his dream."Lopez said the family tried numerous tactics to discourage Mercado. They told the young man that he would suffer in boot camp. But Mercado thrived at Camp Pendleton.Lopez recalled that soon after he graduated from boot camp, Mercado attended her wedding dressed in his Marine Corps uniform."We were so proud of him that he had made it," she said. "He looked so good in that full uniform. He was so happy. This is what he wanted."In Iraq, Mercado called and wrote his family regularly. He never wavered from his conviction that he had made the right choice."He knew that was the way to buy his mother the house he wanted," Lopez said. "I remember the day he visited my parents' house, and he asked his mother, 'Mom, do you want a house like this? I'm going to get you one.' "Mercado is survived by his mother, Celia; his father, Raul, who lives in Mexico; two sisters, 22 and 14; and a brother who is a sophomore at Monrovia High.Students at Monrovia High have so far collected $1,500 to help pay for Mercado's funeral costs. His body will be buried near Guadalajara, Mexico.While speaking at the Marine's funeral service last week, Mayor Hammond addressed Celia Mercado. He told her that Monrovians would never forget her son. "Raul Mercado," he said, "will remain in all of our hearts."∼Lance Cpl. Raul Mercado
Age: 21
Hometown: Monrovia, CA
Date of Death: 1/7/2006
Incident Location: Near Al Karmah, Iraq
Branch of Military: Marines
Rank: Lance Cpl.
Unit: 2nd Maintenance Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expedition
Unit's Base: Camp Lejeune, N.C.
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Lance Corporal Raul Mercado chose the Marines because he felt it was the toughest branch of the military and hoped it might prepare him to someday attend the United States Military Academy at West Point.

His high school counselor, Oscar Ibarra, says Mercado "was really set on going to West Point."

The 21-year-old Mercado was killed Jan. 7 in Iraq when his vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb. He was the first serviceman from Monrovia, Calif. to die in Iraq, and the City Council is expected to ask that flags be flown at half-staff in his honor.

Mayor Rob Hammond says that Monrovia "weeps for one of its sons."

He was a 2004 graduate of the local school, where he was a member of the Spanish Honor Society and the basketball, track and field, and cross-country teams.

He was born in the United States, moved to Mexico with his family for several years and returned to attend high school here.

A memorial fund has been established at the high school in his name, with students donating in their classes. Community members who wish to donate should contact the school at (626) 471-2800.

Lance Cpl. Mercado was the son of Celia Mercado of Monrovia. He is also survived by two sisters and a brother who is currently in the 10th Grade at Monrovia High School.
He is also survived by his father, who lives in Mexico.

A funeral was scheduled for next week, with burial to take place in Mexico at a later date.
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Proclamation
Honoring Lance Cpl. Raul Mercado

WHEREAS, Raul Mercado was a resident of the City of Monrovia while a student at Monrovia High School, graduating in 2004; and

WHEREAS, Raul Mercado excelled academically and was a member of the Spanish Honor Society at the high school, earning a 3.5 grade point average, and also participated in and contributed to the school's athletic activities as a member of the basketball, cross country and track and field teams; and

WHEREAS, Raul Mercado was accepted upon graduation by a number of colleges, but chose to join the United States Marine Corps, hoping to someday enter West Point as a cadet; and

WHEREAS, Raul Mercado attained the rank of Marine Lance Corporal and was assigned to the 2nd Maintenance Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, serving in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, Lance Corporal Mercado died near Al Karmah, Iraq, on January 7, 2006, when the vehicle in which he was riding was hit by an explosive device during combat operations; and

WHEREAS, Raul Mercado's service to his country and ultimate sacrifice on behalf of all of us has touched this community deeply,

NOW, THEREFORE, The City Council of the City of Monrovia and the Board of Education of the Monrovia Unified School District, do jointly proclaim January 18-25 to be Raul Mercado Remembrance Week, and ask that flags at all schools and public facilities in the community fly at half-staff during this period in his honor.

FURTHER, the City Council and Board of Education, on behalf of the people of Monrovia, offer sincere condolences to the family of Raul Mercado, who gave his life in service to our country.

Dated this 17th day of January, 2006

***Special thanks to Find A Grave contributor Caroline for providing date of birth***