Marine Lance Cpl. Derek L. Gardner
Death: Sep 06, 2004
" of San Juan Capistrano Calif.; assigned to Headquarters Battalion 1st Marine Division I Marine Expeditionary Force Camp Pendleton Calif.; killed Sept. 6 due to enemy action in Anbar province Iraq. In the year before his deployment to Iraq Derek L. Gardner moved in with his girlfriend April Ornelas. On Christmas Eve he asked her to marry him when he returned from overseas. ""One of the things he said before he left was 'This isn't goodbye sweetheart this is hello to our new beginning'"" said Ornelas 18. The 20-year-old motor vehicle operator from San Juan Capistrano Calif. was killed Sept. 6 by a car bomb in Iraq's Anbar province. He was stationed at Camp Pendleton Calif. A pro wrestling fan Gardner came from a military family. A great-grandfather fought in World War I his grandfathers served in Korea and World War II and his father was a Marine in Vietnam. ""He was a proud Marine Vickey De Lacour said of her son. He walked like a Marine he talked like a Marine. He was just doing his job."" Other survivors include his father Ken. — Associated Press"