A 19-year-old Marine from Melrose Park has been killed in Afghanistan, military officials announced Monday.
Lance Cpl. Frederik E. Vazquez of Melrose Park, Ill., died July 24 in Helmand province.
His family, who called him Eddie, said his 20th birthday was coming up in the next week or so and that he had planned to come home to celebrate with them.
Vazquez graduated from West Leden High School in North Lake two years ago. He joined the Marine Corps shortly after graduation and was assigned to 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune.
He was deployed to Afghanistan in March of this year.
His awards include the Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Chicago Tribune reported, citing military officials.
Vazquez is survived by his parents and one older brother. He was not married and had no children.
