Marine Lance Cpl. Carlos A. Aragon

Died March 1, 2010 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

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19, of Orem, Utah; assigned to 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, based out of Camp Pendleton, Calif.; died March 1 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

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Marine reservist killed in Helmand

Staff report

A California-based reservist died March 1 in Afghanistan, the Defense Department announced March 3.

Lance Cpl. Carlos A. Aragon, 19, of Orem, Utah, was killed while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, a volatile area where Marines continue to battle for control of Marjah, a contested Taliban stronghold.

Aragon was assigned to the 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion from Camp Pendleton.

No additional information was immediately available.

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Aragon remembered as solid friend

The Associated Press

LEHI, Utah — A Marine killed in combat in Afghanistan was remembered as a quiet man, a solid friend and someone who rarely took the easy way.

Lance Cpl. Carlos A. Aragon, 19, of Orem died March 1 from injuries sustained during combat action in Helmand province.

At a funeral March 6 in Lehi, friends and family recalled an adventurous young man passionate about skateboards, cars, guitars — and sometimes doing things his own way.

“He didn’t like going up the trail at Bridal Veil Falls” in Provo Canyon, said Brad Halliday. “He went straight up the mountain the hard way. That’s the way he liked things.”

But he was also remembered as a quiet, humble young man who arranged to have flowers sent on Mother’s Day, even while he was away on duty.

“He helped me to be a better man, a better husband, a better father and a better friend,” Halliday said. “And he did it by example.”

He also didn’t seek the spotlight, said Robert Gardner, who was Aragon’s bishop in his ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“He didn’t need any fame. He didn’t need any glory. He didn’t like to speak in front of people,” Gardner said.

Gardner remembered when Aragon helped a friend duct tape his car after a fender-bender so it could be driven to a mechanic.

“But he did more than that. He made sure the car looked as good as it could, then with the duct tape he put a big smiley face on the front of the car,” Gardner said. “What a wonderful way to turn a negative experience into something his friend would remember for the rest of his life.”

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, noted the sacrifice of Aragon and his family.

“This country is great because of people like Carlos who, at a very young age, step up and do the brave thing,” he said.

Aragon graduated from Mountain View High School in 2008 and immediately enlisted in the Marine Reserves.