Marine Lance Cpl. James D. Boelk

Remember Our Heroes

Marine Lance Cpl. James D. Boelk, 24, of Oceanside, Calif.

LCpl Boelk was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; died Oct. 15, 2010 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

9 Camp Pendleton Marines Killed From Same Regiment

Nine Camp Pendleton-based Marines have been killed in Afghanistan in eight days. All were members of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment.

The latest casualty, Lance Cpl. James D. Boelk, 24, of Oceanside, Calif., died Friday while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan, according to the Department of Defense.

"He was my best friend and my backbone," said Boelk’s sister, Allyssia Boelk.

She says her brother had a way of making everyone around him smile.

“He was always there. He would always be there for me,” Boelk said. “I will always remember his dependability and his smile.”

Lance Cpl. Boelk came from a military family. His sister remembers how even as a little boy, he would always dress up in uniform.

Last year when he enrolled in the Marines, his father was beaming with pride.

“He was very, very proud. I've never seen him more proud actually,” Boelk said.

The 24-year-old was killed Friday in Afghanistan. It was his first deployment.

“I could tell a week or two before he was leaving, he was excited and extremely scared,” his sister said.

Lance Cpl. Boelk received many awards during his short military career, including the Purple Heart and the national defense service medal.

Four of Boelk's fellow Marines with the 3/5 lost their lives in Helmand Province Oct. 13th when a bomb hit their convoy.

Marine Lance Cpl. James D. Boelk was killed in action on 10/15/10.