Carlos Arredondo

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Carlos Arredondo made national news when his son Marine Lance Corporal Alexander Arrendondo, 20 years old, was killed in Najaf, Iraq during the Second Iraq War on August 24, 2004. On August 25, 2004, Carlos Arredondo's 44th birthday, the Marines when to his home in Hollywood, Florida to notify him of his son's death. The Marines had not brought a chaplain with them. Mr. Arredondo became extremely upset and agitated and asked the Marines to leave his house. At the same time in Maine, the Marines were notifying Alex's mother and brother of his death. After some time went by and the Marines refused to leave, Mr. Arredondo in a rage took a gas and a torch from his garage and proceeded to pour gasoline inside and on the Marine's van. He then lit the van, with himself in it.

Mr. Arredondo was pulled out to safety, however his clothes caught on fire and burned 26% of his body. He received second- and third-degree burns. He was hospitalized in a burn unit for a month. Despite his burns, he attended his son's funeral in a stretcher. Mr. Arredondo, who was an immigrant from Costa Rica, had no insurance and was self-employed working as a handyman. His story made national and international headlines. His recovery took over a year.

Since then he apologized to the Marines for his drastic actions and the military dropped charges against him.

Mr. Arredondo formed an organization called People United for Peace. He is now a strong anti-war activist and has speaking engagements around the country speaking about his personal tragedy and to parents about the methods recruiters use to enlist youth. He especially tries to reach out to the Spanish-speaking community.