Another locally based Marine was killed this week in Afghanistan.
Staff Sgt. Joshua Cullins of Simi Valley was killed by a roadside bomb Tuesday in the Helmand province. The 28-year-old was also a new officer with the Los Angeles Police Department.
An explosive ordinance expert, Cullins had just recovered from a concussion by another bomb blast two months ago that had brought video well-wishes from the LAPD.
"Josh, hope this message finds you well," Capt. Daryl Russell said at the time. "I know you've been through some tough times over there and cannot wait to see you, cannot wait to get you home."
Russell talked this week about that video.
"We shot this video in July and everyone was looking forward to him coming home, and it's just kind of surreal right now that he's no longer with us and that reunion's not going to happen now," Cullins said.
Cullins was assigned to the 1st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, 1st Marine Expeditionary force, which is based at Camp Pendleton.
Thirteen Camp Pendleton-based Marines have died in Afghanistan this month. According to our media partner, the North County Times, 12 of them were part of the 1st Marine Division, which has about 10,000 Marines and sailors serving in Afghanistan.
The deaths have all occurred since Oct. 8, making the last two weeks the deadliest 14-day period for local troops since the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003.
Roadside bombs have been responsible more than 60 percent of all battlefield deaths.
