Marine Lance Cpl. Jason Andrew Tetrault

Died July 9, 2003 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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20, of Moreno Valley, Calif.; assigned to 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, Twentynine Palms, Calif.; killed in a vehicle accident in Kuwait July 9.

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A former high school football player, Lance Cpl. Jason Andrew Tetrault had planned to join the football team at the Marine base in Twentynine Palms, Calif., and to study computer programming in college. But his mother said he hadn’t been looking too far into the future.

“Jason was the type of person that didn’t make long-term plans,” said Mary Carriere of Moreno Valley, Calif. “His theory was: You never know what life is going to throw at you.”

Tetrault, 20, died July 9 in a car accident in Kuwait.

Seeking new challenges, Tetrault decided he would join the Marines the summer before his senior year in high school, his mother said. She and her husband, Raymond, come from military families and supported his decision to enlist.

“We’ve always left that up to the kids, but we’ve also let them know that, as an American, you should serve your country if you’re able to.”

Tetrault had been looking forward to coming home on leave and was already planning out his month of leave back in Moreno Valley. He wanted to go bungee jumping and skydiving and couldn’t wait to see the Pacific Ocean again, his mother said. “He didn’t like having to sit; he liked to go, liked to play,” Carriere said. “He was just always on the move.”

— Associated Press