Marine Lance Cpl. Joshua D. Corral, 19, of Danville, Calif.
LCpl Corral was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.; died Nov. 18, 2011 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, while conducting combat operations.
Lcpl Corral, aka "Chachi", the second oldest of four boys, graduated from San Ramon Valley High School in 2010, where he played football his freshman year. His nickname came about due to his baby brother who had trouble pronouncing his older brother's first name.
Lcpl Corral joined the Marines in July 2010. He graduated first in his Marine Corps class and served as his squad's sweeper, he would go in front of the squad to sweep the area for improvised explosive devices. This was his first deployment.
Lcpl Corral had been active in the Danville Little League from Tee Ball through Big League. His father, Arnie, had been an active member of the league for many years and is currently serving on the Board of Directors.
Friend, Brock Marcotte, said, "It's not how big he lived his life, but how rich and meaninful his life actually was. He always saw the bigger picture that tomorrow is not today. He was always leading and never follwoing because he chose his own path."
"He loved being in the Marines. Being in the Marines fit him perfectly. He loved working hard. He was super tough. There are Marines and then there are Marines you want to be like. And he was definitely one of those Marines. He set the bar to excel," said Brock.
"Just a great kid. Friends with everyone. He had anyone's back," said family friend, Christine Mahoney. "When he joined after graduating, 10 of his friends joined the Marines too. That's who he was. He just wanted to serve his country. He wanted to make a difference."
Lcpl Corral's awardsand decorations include:
Purple Heart
Combat Action Ribbon
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
Cpl Corral is survived by his mother, Denise; father, Arnie; brothers, Zach, Jordan and Christian.
Marine Lance Cpl. Joshua D. Corral was killed in action on 11/18/11.
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