Family, Friends To Mourn Loss Of Davie Soldier

HOLLYWOOD (CBS4) - Family and friends will gather Monday to mourn the loss of a Davie man who died while serving his country in Afghanistan.

The body of Army Staff Sgt. Juan Rivadeneira, 27, arrived Sunday morning at Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport early Sunday morning. His flag draped coffin was then taken to Fred Hunter Funeral Home on Taft Street in Hollywood where a viewing will be held Monday beginning at noon.

A funeral mass for Rivadeneira will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the Church of the Little Flower, located at 1805 Pierce Street in Hollywood. After mass his body will be laid to rest at the South Florida National Cemetery in Lake Worth.

Rivadeneira died November 13th in the Kandahar province when his unit was attacked by a suicide bomber who detonated a bomb vest. Also killed in the blast were 20-year old Cpl. Jacob Carver of Freeman, Missouri and 20-year old Specialist Jacob Carroll of Clemmons, North Carolina. All three soldiers were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Rivadeneria, who joined the Army in May 2003, is survived by his wife, Melissa and their son Juan.