Marine Lance Cpl. Patrick A. Malone

Died March 10, 2009 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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21, of Ocala, Fla.; assigned to 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died March 10 as a result of a non-hostile incident in Saqlawiyah, Iraq.

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Visit to Lejeune inspired lance corporal to become Marine

Lance Cpl. Patrick A. Malone wanted to be a Marine throughout his childhood. But it was at the age of 11, during a visit to Camp Lejeune, where his big sister was a Marine, that the dream took root.

“He never wanted to be a hero,” said his sister, Jennifer Hopper. “He just wanted to be a part of something bigger than himself. He wanted to help people. He wanted to protect people.”

Malone, 21, of Ocala, Fla., was killed in a non-hostile incident March 10 in Anbar province. He was assigned to Camp Lejeune.

Even in Iraq, he was constantly online and on the phone with friends and family catching up. He sent his friend, Clare Canon, three dozen roses on Valentine’s Day.

Even on the day he died, Patrick made a flurry of calls to family members to say hello and to apologize for missing his grandmother’s birthday party.

Malone’s eclectic interests included reading philosophy and meditating. He loved adventure, too. For his 22nd birthday in May, Hopper planned to take him sky diving near her home when he came to visit during a scheduled break.

Patrick is survived by his parents, Neida and Damian.