Marine Staff Sgt. Riayan Tejada died in Baghdad, April 11, 2003. He was 26 years old. He came to the United States when he was 5 with his parents from the Dominican Republic, and grew up in NYC. He wanted to be two things growing up, a US citizen and a Marine.

He joined the Marine Corps immediately after high school, and excelled. He was an excellent marksman and became an elite sniper, serving almost 8 years before his death. He had just reenlisted a month prior, just days before the Iraq invasion.

His father Julio said this about him after his death:

Riayan was an adoptive son of America, and he knew it was America that gave him the tools to be the man he turned out to be.

After his death, Staff Sgt Tejada finally realized his other dream in life, and was posthumously granted citizenship. He was also given a Silver Star in recognition of his leadership and valor.