Ricardo was raised in Salinas, California. He graduated from Everett Alvarez High School in 2005, where he spent four years in the NJROTC program and rose to commanding officer. After high school, he attended the University of California, Irvine, earning a bachelor’s degree in chemistry in 2009. While at UCI, he competed on the taekwondo team and worked as a community service officer for the campus police.

In July 2010, Ricardo enlisted in the U.S. Army. He completed One Station Unit Training, the Basic Airborne Course, and the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program at Fort Benning, Georgia. In March 2011, he was assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, and later deployed to Afghanistan. On October 8, 2011, Ricardo was killed by small-arms fire during combat in Logar Province. In an act of extraordinary bravery, he exposed himself to enemy fire to rescue his wounded platoon sergeant and shielded his fellow Rangers from a grenade blast. For these actions, he was posthumously awarded the Silver Star.

Ricardo’s legacy lives on through his family, friends, and fellow soldiers. His courage and selflessness inspired others, including Shawn Patterson, who honored his memory through the Legacy Challenge: Trek to Tribute—a 425-mile journey from Dana Point to Salinas. A bronze statue of Ricardo now stands in Salinas’s Central Park, a lasting tribute to his sacrifice and service.