Marine Cpl. Carlos Arellano Pandura
22, of Rosemead, Calif.; assigned to 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; attached to 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward); killed Jan. 20 by a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device while he was conducting combat operations in Haqlaniyah, Iraq. Also killed was Lance Cpl. Brandon Dewey.
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Marine killed in Iraq hoped for future as SWAT officer
Associated Press
ROSEMEAD, Calif. — A 27-year-old Marine who survived two previous tours in Iraq died in Anbar province when a suicide bomber ignited an explosives-filled car, military officials said.
Carlos Arellano of Rosemead was killed on Jan. 20. He had joined the Marines to get training as a SWAT officer with the Los Angeles Police Department, his brother said.
He had planned to study criminal justice when he returned from Iraq in March. His discharge was scheduled for July.
Marco Arellano said his brother was a fearless, outgoing person who showed off pictures of himself mixing with local people in Iraq.
“His favorite times were when children would come out to wave to him,” his brother said.
Carlos Arellano joined the Marines in 2003, a year after graduating from high school. He was wounded in the leg by shrapnel from a rocket-propelled grenade in heavy fighting during his second tour.
He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expedition Force, out of Camp Pendleton.
During the Iraq war, his unit was attached to the 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).
Carlos Arellano was born in Mexico and grew up in Rosemead.
He is survived by his father, Robert, his mother, Emelia, and his brothers, Robert and Marco.
Funeral arrangements were pending.
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