Camp Pendleton Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew R. Rodriguez, 19, was killed Dec. 11 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
He died during combat operations, according to the Department of Defense.
Rodriguez grew up in Fairhaven, Mass. He was assigned to 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton.
According to the Marine Corps Times:
1st Combat Engineer Battalion deployed to Afghanistan earlier this fall, taking over for 3rd CEB in a transfer of authority ceremony at Camp Leatherneck on Oct. 21.
Boston.com reports Rodriguez enlisted in the Marine Corps on Aug. 20, 2012. He has posthumously been awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and NATO Medal-International Security Assistance Force Afghanistan.
The Marine Corps Times reports Rodriguez’s death is the first Marine casualty in Afghanistan since October.
