Marine Cpl. Anthony G. Mihalo

Died August 14, 2008 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

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23, of Naperville, Ill.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.; died Aug. 14 while supporting combat operations in Sangin, Afghanistan. Also killed was Lance Cpl. Juan Lopez-Castaneda.

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Chicago-area Marine killed in Afghanistan

Staff report

A 22-year-old enlisted Marine with ties to the Chicago area died Thursday in Afghanistan, his family told local media.

Lance Cpl. Tony Mihalo grew up in Naperville, Ill. The Defense Department has not confirmed his death by press time, and no unit information was immediately available.

Before his most recent assignment in Afghanistan, Mihalo had deployed twice to Iraq, according to a report in the Daily Herald, which covers the Chicago suburbs. He was the recipient of three Purple Hearts, reportedly, one for an injury sustained last month.

“He ... had the opportunity to come home,” his father told the newspaper. “But he refused. He said he couldn’t leave his unit behind.”

A page dedicated to Mihalo on SoldierWall.com includes a handful of comments from friends and family. One remembrance posted Friday reads: “Hey brother, it was great serving with you, see you a little later on.”

Mihalo was a 2004 graduate of Naperville High School, where he was a member of the football team, the Herald reported. He was expected home from Afghanistan in November.