Marine Lance Cpl. Andrew Julian Aviles - Tampa
tommy18, of Tampa, Florida.
Killed in Central Iraq when an enemy artillery round struck the Amphibious Assault Vehicle in which he was riding. He was a member of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve assigned to the 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Tampa, Florida. Died on April 7, 2003.
Lance Corporal Andrew Julian Aviles was just 18, preparing for his freshman year at Florida State University, when his country called on him to do a man’s job. He had committed to the Marine Corps Reserves before his senior year at Robinson High School in south Tampa, before the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, before there was any talk of invading Iraq.
Less than a year after leading the Pledge of Allegiance at his high school graduation, the former student council president and cheerleader found himself preparing to cross the Tigris River last April 7 in the siege of Baghdad. He never made it.
Aviles is buried at Arlington.
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May 4th, 2007 at 6:57 pm
The pain passes, but the beauty remains.
- Pierre Auguste Renoir
May 5th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE FAMILY AND PLEASE REMEMBER EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY NOT FEEL THIS WAY RIGHT NOW. WITH PASSING TIME IT HEALS THE PAIN OF LOSING A FAMILY MEMBER AND ONE SO YOUNG. HE WAS SERVING OUR COUNTRY AND WE ALL THANKSFUL FOR HIM FOR THAT BRAVERY AND COURAGE HE HAD WHILE FIGHTING TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRY. MAY GOD KEEPS YOU SAFE AND HEAL YOUR PAIN IS MY PRAYER….
May 5th, 2007 at 4:57 pm
WE ARE ALL THANKFUL FOR THIS YOUNG MAN’S BRAVERY AND COURAGE WHILE FIGHTING FOR OUR COUNTRY AND AS TIME PASSES THE PAIN WILL TOO, BUT NEVER WILL HE BE FORGOTTEN. LOVE AND PRAYERS TO ALL THE FAMILY OF THIS YOUNG SOLDIER AND AMERICAN HERO….