Marine Cpl. Adrian Robles

Died October 22, 2008 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

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21, of Scottsbluff, Neb.; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.; died Oct. 22 while supporting combat operations in Bela Ba Luk, Afghanistan. Also killed was Lance Cpl. San Sim.

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Marine from Scottsbluff dies in Afghanistan

By Josh Funk

The Associated Press

OMAHA, Neb. — A Marine Corps corporal from Scottsbluff died in Afghanistan earlier this week, according to the military.

Cpl. Adrian Robles was killed Wednesday while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. The 21-year-old was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif. One other Marine from the same unit, Lance Cpl. San Sim, 23, of Santa Ana, Calif., also died Wednesday in the same province of Afghanistan.

Robles is one of at least 55 U.S. service members with Nebraska connections who have died in Afghanistan or Iraq since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Robles appeared to have been an exemplary rifleman because during his relatively short time in the Marines, he had already earned three good conduct medals, said 1st Lt. Curtis Williamson, spokesman for the 1st Marine Division.

Former Scottsbluff High School principal Kirk Begley told KNEB-AM that he remembered Robles’ positive attitude and the smile that was usually on his face. Robles was involved in soccer and the computer club in high school.

Robles’ unit is conducting security operations in Afghanistan and training local police and soldiers. Robles’ time in Afghanistan, which began in March or April, was nearly over because his unit is scheduled to return home in November, Williamson said.

“I’d like to offer our sincere condolences to Cpl. Robles’ family and friends. It’s really tragic to lose a Marine for us, especially so close to the end of a deployment,” Williamson said. “It tore me up today when I saw those casualty reports.”

Williamson didn’t know exactly how long Robles had been a Marine, but his records showed that the young man completed a seven-month-long tour in Iraq in 2006.

Robles will receive a Purple Heart because he died in action as a result of hostile wounds, but Williamson said the Marines won’t release the details of his death.

Robles is one of at least 549 members of the U.S. military who have died in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan since the U.S. invaded Afghanistan in late 2001.

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Hundreds gather to mourn Neb. Marine

The Associated Press

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. — Hundreds of people gathered Saturday to honor a U.S. Marine Corps corporal from Scottsbluff who was killed last month in Afghanistan.

Family and friends who spoke of Cpl. Adrian Robles during a funeral service in Gering mentioned his positive attitude and his unforgettable smile.

Robles was killed Oct. 22 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. The 21-year-old was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.

Robles is one of at least 55 U.S. service members with Nebraska connections who have died in Afghanistan or Iraq since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

A spokesman for the 1st Marine Division, 1st Lt. Curtis Williamson, has said Robles’ unit is conducting security operations in Afghanistan and training local police and soldiers. Robles’ time in Afghanistan, which began in March or April, was nearly over because his unit is scheduled to return home this month.

Williamson didn’t know exactly how long Robles had been a Marine, but his records showed that the young man completed a seven-month-long tour in Iraq in 2006.

Robles will receive a Purple Heart because he died in action as a result of hostile wounds, but Williamson has said the Marines won’t release the details of his death.

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Marine Cpl. Adrian Robles remembered

The Associated Press

Adrian Robles was recalled as a man with an electric smile.

Gunnery Sgt. Trent Kuhlhoff, who served with Robles, said he never knew anyone who laughed and smiled more than Robles.

“It was hard for me to get mad at him for anything,” Kuhlhoff said.

Robles, 21, of Scottsbluff, Neb., died Oct. 22 during combat in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was a 2005 high school graduate and was assigned to Twentynine Palms, Calif.

Robles knew he wanted to be a Marine before he graduated from high school. His senior year, he went out for the soccer team, even though he’d barely played the sport before.

His coach, Pedro Sulu, said Robles told him he wanted to play because the conditioning would give him a head start on what the Marines would expect from him.

“We had to help him learn some of the skills, and he became one of our goalkeepers,” Sulu said. “He was always willing to learn, and very enthusiastic.”

He is survived by his parents, Cesar and Yolanda.

“This is all he wanted to do, be a Marine. He did it. He got to be what he wanted to be,” said Julie Morrison, a city councilwoman. “God bless him for that.”