Slain Marine just wanted to stay alive

[unhappycamper]

Slain Marine just wanted to stay alive
By Jim Walsh - The Arizona Republic
Posted : Thursday Aug 21, 2008 6:42:35 EDT

A 19-year-old Mesa Marine had a simple but essential goal for this year: to stay alive.

But Lance Cpl. Juan Lopez-Castaneda, described by a priest as “a warrior” and “a free spirit,” died Aug. 14 with two other Marines while supporting combat operations in Helmand province in Afghanistan.

Lopez-Castaneda, who was born in Mexico but grew up in Mesa, was the 12th Mesa resident to die in Operation Enduring Freedom and the 123rd Arizonan killed in Iraq and Afghanistan since the war began, according to a listing compiled by azcentral.com.

“He was a very honest guy, strong in his decisions and very proud serving in the Marines,” the Rev. Kilian McCaffrey of Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Mesa said of Lopez-Castaneda. “He died doing what he believed in: fighting for freedom. He will be rewarded.”

Lopez-Castaneda’s simple wish was listed on his MySpace profile. One relative, identified only as Sandra, reacted with shock and sadness in a message she posted.


Rest of article at" http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/08/gns_lopez_obit_082008w/%2e

[northofdenali]

1. I despise Bush and all his cronies.

:cry::mad::cry: