One of two Camp Pendleton-based Marines killed in combat over the weekend in Afghanistan told his family before he left for the mission that the possibility of death was real and asked for a "nice military funeral."
Sgt. Joseph D. Caskey (pictured right) died Saturday while supporting combat operations according to the Department of Defense.
The 24-year old, originally from Pittsburgh, Pa., was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment.
A Pittsburgh television reporter quoted Caskey's father, Jerry Caskey, as saying Joseph knew his most recent mission in Afghanistan was dangerous and was prepared to die taking it on.
"He told us if he didn't make it back -- he knew that possibility was real -- to make sure we give him a really nice military funeral, so he calculated the risk," Jerry Caskey said.
Joe Caskey had been offered a "somewhat safer assignment" but turned it down because he trained for a year with his team and wanted to stay with them as their leader his parents told WTAE.
Cpl. Daane A. Deboer, 24, of Ludington, Mich., died Friday, June 25 in the Helmand province. Deboer's father David told the Chicago Tribune that his son was killed by an improvised explosive device while on foot patrol.
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Deboer (pictured left) was assigned to 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division.
"He was an exceptionally phenomenal young man who loved the Lord," his mother Charlene Zerrenner of Ludington, Mich. told the Tribune. "He loved his family and he loved his country. He died a hero."
The new casualties raise the number of Marines associated with the base who have died in connection with the spring surge to 12.
