Corona, CA: Camp Pendleton Marine from Corona killed in Afghanistan

A 22-year-old rifleman from Corona was killed in Afghanistan on Wednesday.

Lance Cpl. Curtis Duarte died while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division.

Duarte enlisted in the Marine Corps on Aug. 6, 2008. This was his first deployment to Afghanistan.

His decorations include the Purple Heart Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with one bronze star.

Duarte is the 14th Marine from Camp Pendleton to be killed in Afghanistan this year.

Six other Pendleton-base Marines died in late February after two helicopters crashed during a training exercise over the California and Arizona desert.