Marine Pfc. Miguel A. Marcial III

Died April 1, 2007 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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19, of Secaucus, N.J.; assigned to 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died April 1 in the Anbar province, Iraq. His death is currently under investigation.

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Marine from N.J. dies in Iraq

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- The military is investigating the death of a North Carolina-based Marine who died over the weekend in Iraq, the Department of Defense said April 3.

Pfc. Miguel A. Marcial III, 19, of Secaucus, N.J., died April 1 in Anbar province. Marcial was assigned to 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force based at Camp Lejeune.

Friends and family members described Marcial as personable and popular.

“He was outgoing and funny, and had just a good personality,'' his mother, Diana Cabrera, now of Chatham, told The Jersey Journal of Jersey City.

A 2005 graduate of Secaucus High School, Marcial enlisted in the Marines in February 2006. A former teacher and mentor, Mike Kelly, described Marcial as ``your typical nice kid. He was very popular with the girls, and he had a real playful side to him.''

Kelly said Marcial shipped out to Iraq in March.

“He was only there a month. The whole thing is so shocking,'' he said.

Marcial joined the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines in April of last year, the military said. He was trained as a field radio operator.

Officials at Camp Lejeune did not immediately return a phone message Tuesday seeking details about Marcial's death.