YOU will always be remembered and Loved Marc
LITHIA -- Ellen Delgado was home alone early Friday when two uniformed officers appeared at her door, bringing the dreaded news that her son, Army Pfc. Marc Delgado, 21, was killed in Iraq.
Marc Delgado was one of two soldiers killed in Baghdad on Friday when an improvised bomb exploded near their Humvee, causing it to flip into a canal. He was the 28th Tampa Bay area serviceman to die in Operation Iraqi Freedom since the war began in March 2003.
Delgado, a 2003 graduate of Durant High School, died doing what he wanted to do, his mother said.
"He always planned to join the Army. He took about six months after graduation and then, when all his friends were leaving, he signed up. He figured he would be going to Iraq," she said.
Delgado left for Iraq in February after training in Fort Lewis, Wash. He was with the 170th Military Police Company, 504th Military Police Battalion, 42nd Military Police Brigade.
His mother said she is especially glad he opted to take a 15-day leave and come home in July. His other option was a 30-day leave when his tour in Iraq was up in February.
"I'm so glad he took that time; that we got to have that time," she said. "He seemed the same old Marc."
He was the middle child between brothers Eric, 24, and Bryce, 16. His parents described him as a loving boy who grew into a loving man.
His father, Ronald, who lives in Plant City, said people "just took to him."
Marc Delgado was 6-foot-3 and weighed about 230 pounds, and "he was always giving me and everyone big bear hugs," his mother said.
Delgado was a member of the Durant football team's offensive line and was proud to have been on the school's first winning team, Ellen Delgado said.
Teammate Waylan Slabach, 20, also of Lithia, described his friend as someone "who would never disappoint you" and "a real good football player who didn't get as much credit as he deserved."
Slabach, who has been friends with Delgado since fourth grade, said he was angry when he learned of his death.
"I said, 'Why, and for what?' " he said. "I'm not worried about the politics of the war. I began supporting it, and I'm not all for or against it now.
"But I am against my friends dying," he said.
Slabach said the death of his friend has helped him to put his life in perspective.
"The petty things I worry about are nothing compared to what he did, that he wanted to do," he said.
"He was someone you always depended on to get things done. I've never been disappointed by him."
Funeral arrangements are incomplete, his mother said.
Marc Delgado was one of two soldiers killed in Baghdad on Friday when an improvised bomb exploded near their Humvee, causing it to flip into a canal. He was the 28th Tampa Bay area serviceman to die in Operation Iraqi Freedom since the war began in March 2003.
Delgado, a 2003 graduate of Durant High School, died doing what he wanted to do, his mother said.
"He always planned to join the Army. He took about six months after graduation and then, when all his friends were leaving, he signed up. He figured he would be going to Iraq," she said.
Delgado left for Iraq in February after training in Fort Lewis, Wash. He was with the 170th Military Police Company, 504th Military Police Battalion, 42nd Military Police Brigade.
His mother said she is especially glad he opted to take a 15-day leave and come home in July. His other option was a 30-day leave when his tour in Iraq was up in February.
"I'm so glad he took that time; that we got to have that time," she said. "He seemed the same old Marc."
He was the middle child between brothers Eric, 24, and Bryce, 16. His parents described him as a loving boy who grew into a loving man.
His father, Ronald, who lives in Plant City, said people "just took to him."
Marc Delgado was 6-foot-3 and weighed about 230 pounds, and "he was always giving me and everyone big bear hugs," his mother said.
Delgado was a member of the Durant football team's offensive line and was proud to have been on the school's first winning team, Ellen Delgado said.
Teammate Waylan Slabach, 20, also of Lithia, described his friend as someone "who would never disappoint you" and "a real good football player who didn't get as much credit as he deserved."
Slabach, who has been friends with Delgado since fourth grade, said he was angry when he learned of his death.
"I said, 'Why, and for what?' " he said. "I'm not worried about the politics of the war. I began supporting it, and I'm not all for or against it now.
"But I am against my friends dying," he said.
Slabach said the death of his friend has helped him to put his life in perspective.
"The petty things I worry about are nothing compared to what he did, that he wanted to do," he said.
"He was someone you always depended on to get things done. I've never been disappointed by him."
Funeral arrangements are incomplete, his mother said.