Army Specialist Roland E. Calderon-Ascencio, 21, of Miami, Florida, was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. On April 12th, 2006, he died of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during combat operations in Misiab, Iraq.

Born in California, SPC Calderon and his family settled in South Florida when he was 5. After he severely injured his ankle in a childhood biking accident, SPC. Calderon focused on academics instead of sports, although before enlisting in the Army in 2004, he spent weeks jogging to lose weight. He was assigned to Fort Hood as an armor crewman for the M1 tank.

Friends remembered SPC Calderon-Ascencio as a courageous young man who served for the freedom of others. Family recalled a time when he called to ask his mother to send him Doritos, which they used as poker chips in card games with other soldiers.

SPC Calderon-Ascencio was survived by his wife, Mirta- whom he met while they were both Army recruits- and twin boys.