Capt. Christopher J. Sullivan Hometown

Eric P. Valdepenas

Wednesday, September 06 2006 @ 01:09 AM EDT WHDH.com -- BOSTON -- A 21-year-old Marine reservist from Seekonk who had been studying engineering at the University of Massachusetts has been killed in Iraq, military officials announced Tuesday. Lance Cpl. Eric P. Valdepenas died Monday when his vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb in the Al Anbar province of Fallujah in Iraq, according to the Defense Department. Two other servicemen were killed in the attack. Valdepenas was a machine gunner in the 1st Battalion 25th Marines reserve unit, based in Devens, Mass., the Marine Corps said. The unit, activated in December 2005, is scheduled to return home next month. Valdepenas had received numerous honors, including a purple heart, the Marine Corps said. Valdepenas graduated from Bishop Hendricken in Warwick, R.I., and was a full-time engineering student at UMass-Amherst before his unit was called up. Valdepenas was the youngest of eight children. He is survived by his parents, Dr. Jesus Bernal Valdepenas and Anne-Marie Valdepenas, two brothers and five sisters. The family's phone number is not listed. The Marine Corps said the family planned to meet with the news media Wednesday at their home.

Raymond's mother, Jaclyn Raymond, has said he was motivated by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to join the Army after graduating from Swampscott High School in 2004. He was deployed to Iraq in January. "He didn't complain about boot camp. He didn't complain about the 135-degree heat in Iraq," friend Jarred Wiedenroth said. "He was glad to do it because he thought it was the right thing to do." Wiedenroth said Raymond loved fast cars and wanted to become a Boston police officer. Martha Kelleher, an assistant principal at Swampscott High School, where Raymond graduated with the class of 2004, called Raymond a respectful student, who got along well with his classmates. About a half-dozen students in his class joined the armed forces, and many current students have siblings serving oversees. "They feel the effect of not only the loss of one of their brothers' classmates, but also the fact that it drives home the risk their own brothers are facing when they do a tour of duty," she said.

Of Swampscott, Sept. 19, age 20. Son of Jaclyn Raymond of Swampscott. Grandson of Agnes J. Raymond of Swampscott & the late John F. Raymond. Nephew of James & Suzanne Raymond of Lexington, MA, and Marcella & John P. Perotti of Topsfield. Cousin of Justin Mooers of San Antonio, TX, John Perotti & Jeremy Perotti, both of Topsfield & Jimmy Raymond of Lexington, MA. Great nephew of Leo & Jerry Powers. Funeral with Full Military Honors will be held from the Cuffe-McGinn Funeral Home, 157 Maple St., LYNN, Thurs. at 9 AM. Funeral Mass in St. John the Evangelist Church, Swampscott Thurs. at 11 AM. Relatives and friends respectfully invited to attend. Visiting Hours Weds. 4-8 PM.

During her husband''s funeral, Melissa Garvin recalled her wedding day when she caught Edward M. Garvin wearing his favorite green shorts, singing to himself in the mirror, "Going to the chapel and I''m going to get married." "I strongly believe he is with us today," she said. If he could say something, "he''d say something silly to make us laugh," she said. "That''s what he would have wanted." Garvin, 19, of Malden, Mass., was killed in combat Oct. 4 in Anbar province. He was a 2005 high school graduate and was assigned to Camp Lejeune. "He liked people, he liked the other kids in school, and he was very popular," said school superintendent Patricia Cronin. His wife said he made a selfless decision to go overseas, despite her pleas for him to stay home with other Marines in his unit who were not deployed. "I was mad at him when he told me, because I knew that there were only 150 slots to go over there and there were 200 people in his unit, so I asked why he wouldn''t stay here," she said. "And he told me that if he didn''t go over there, then someone else would have to go and be away from their family." He also is survived by a son, Grant.

Late of Jacksonville, NC, October 4 at 19 years old. Born and raised in Malden, killed in action defending his country, after less than a month in Iraq. Attended Lincoln Elementary School and graduated from the Culinary Arts Program, Northeast Vocational High School. Active Boy Scout, working summers at boy scout camp. Survived by devoted wife and best friend Melissa (Rabideau) Garvin. Son of Catharine Edwards of Malden. Brother of Lawrence Edwards and Catharine Price, all of Malden. Father of Brent Mathew of Saugus. Son of Marcell Garvin of CA. Also survived by other siblings residing in CA. Funeral from the E.E. Burns and Son Funeral Home, 204 Main St., MALDEN, Friday at 9 AM. Funeral Mass in the Church of the Sacred Hearts at 10 AM. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Visiting hours Thursday, 2-4 and 7-9 PM. Committal Service will be at Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett.