Lance Cpl. Carlos A. Aragon

Lance Cpl. Carlos A. Aragon, 19, of Orem, Utah, died March 1 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, based out of Camp Pendleton, Calif.

  Lance Cpl. Carlos A. Aragon, 19, was a quiet, respectful young man who loved '70s rock music and trucks and who knew the dangers of service in Afghanistan. "He understood what it was all about," said Aragon's stepfather, Brad Halladay of Lehi. "Before he left on his final deployment, he said, 'Dad, whatever happens, it's in the Lord's hands. If he wants me to come home, I'll come home. "At the same time, he had told his family he probably wouldn't re-enlist. "He just didn't like saying goodbye," Aragon died Monday in Helmand province. Halladay said the family was told that although Aragon was primarily a diesel mechanic and driver, he was on a foot patrol in an Afghan village when he stepped on a pressure-activated homemade explosive. He was killed instantly. Aragon was born in Chihuahua, Mexico, but came to Orem as a young boy and remained there until he graduated from Mountain View High School in 2008. His family moved to Lehi about two years ago. Teachers at Mountain View High School remember Aragon as a quiet, friendly student who stood out because of unruly brown hair that hung down to his shoulders.

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Marine Saluting Courtesy Sgt Michal S. Williams

"He was a respectful, quiet kid, but he got A's in my class and was able to put down on paper some really deep thoughts that were kind of surprising," said assistant principal J. Peter Glahn, who taught sociology when Aragon was a junior at the school. "He had that long hair, but he was a gentle, nice kid." .Halladay said Aragon liked to challenge himself. "In high school he liked climbing the trails behind Bridal Veil Falls all the way to the top," he said. He liked the idea of four-wheeling, although he couldn't afford a vehicle when he was in high school. As a result he enjoyed driving light armored vehicles. "They drive them fast over there. He liked the challenge," Halladay said. "He was the mechanic, but they asked him to drive." He told his family he was focused on safety. "He would call every couple of weeks and he would say, 'I'm staying with the vehicle and I'm ready to go, " Halladay said.