21-year-old US Marine Corporal Alex Martinez died on 5th April 2012 in Helmand province during combat operations in the region.Cpl. Martinez, from Elgin, Illinois, served with the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, based at Camp Pendleton, California. He joined the Marine Corps after graduating from Larkin High School in January 2009. The previous month, he married his high school sweetheart Julianna. The couple moved to California in January.He deployed to Afghanistan in February this year on his second combat tour to the country. His sister told news reporters that Cpl. Martinez wanted to join the police or fire service when he left the Marine Corps.More information to follow.

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