Thursday, April 06 2006 @ 04:55 AM MDT
Contributed by: River97
Views: 1,506
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www.mysanantonio.com -- Andres "A.J." Aguilar, 21, a Marine corporal from Victoria, died Sunday in Iraq when a vehicle carrying him rolled over in a flash flood.
The family learned of the death early the following day.
"On Monday, the Marine gentlemen showed up at my door, and told me my son was missing. On Tuesday, they came back and informed me that he had been found," Andres Aguilar Sr. of Victoria said.
"They said he was one of six in the back of a 7-ton truck that went over a low water crossing. The driver lost control, and the truck rolled on its side," the elder Aguilar said.

He had been one of two Marines and a sailor who were reported missing in the incident, which killed five other Marines, according to news reports.
A.J. Aguilar became the second serviceman from Victoria to die in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He signed up for eight years with the Marines while still a student at Memorial High School in Victoria despite his mother's strong objections, his father said. A week after graduating in May 2002 and turning 18, he left for boot camp.
"We had a graduation party, birthday party and going away party all at once," Andres Aguilar Sr. recalled.
"He was a real smart kid. He wanted to be a Marine. My wife tried to talk him out of it, but this is what he wanted to do," he said.
Aguilar had served in Okinawa and Afghanistan as a communications specialist before being sent to Iraq in late February in his third overseas deployment. He had expected to stay in Iraq until October.
His father said he supports the Bush administration's decision to invade Iraq.
"After Sept. 11 (2001), President Bush had his hands tied. 'Damned if I do, damned if I don't,'" he said. "Something had to be done. Whether this was the right thing or not, I give him credit for sticking to his guns in Iraq."
Andres Aguilar Jr., who was born in Corpus Christi and grew up in Victoria, is survived by his parents, two sisters and a brother. Funeral arrangements are pending.
"Whenever we get his body back and lay him to rest, we'll go forward, keeping him in our hearts and memories," said his father. "I lost a son, and it hurts me, but life will go on, and he will never be forgotten." |
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I would like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for our Country-not just in OIF, but for your service in Afghanistan as well. And to your family, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.
Semper Fi Devil Dog!