Camp Pendleton Marine from Sylmar killed in Afghanistan

A Marine corporal from Camp Pendleton has been killed by a roadside bomb blast in Afghanistan, the Pentagon announced Thursday.

Julio Vargas, 23, from the San Fernando Valley community of Sylmar, was killed Tuesday in Helmand province while serving with the 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. He was a vehicle gunner.

Vargas was on his first combat deployment. He joined the Marine Corps in February 2008.

-- Tony Perry in San Diego

Readers are invited to share memories about Vargas on the California's War Dead database. The Times' interactive database of Californians killed in Afghanistan and Iraq allows you to search by name, high school, hometown and more, as well as read hundreds of obituaries and view links to personal websites and other news reports.

Comments

[Pat]

Great guy, great Natural born leader. He was a Police Explorer for the San fernando Police department and I was for the Bell Gardens Police Department. We would go to summer competition and always had great times. He died a hero and doing what he loved the most, A proud United States citizen and Marine may god have him in his hands. I am sure he is pulling duty in heaven.

RIP sir!

Former Explorer Captain Gallegos
BGPD

[Carol Fleming]

So sorry to hear of the loss of Julio. He is a hero and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at the difficult time. Thank you Julio, for your service, we are very sad that you gave your life.