A Camp Pendleton-based Marine killed in Afghanistan this week was the son of a former base commander, according to a published report.
Second Lt. Robert M. Kelly, 29, was killed by an IED blast while conducting dismounted combat operations against enemy forces in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Wednesday, according to a Department of Defense news release.
Kelly, who was serving his third combat deployment, was commissioned in the Marine Corps December 12, 2008.
Our media partners at the North County Times report that Kelly was the son of a three-star Marine general. Lt. Gen. John Kelly commanded the 1 Marine Exepeditionary Force in Iraq in 2008, according to the paper. He is now the commander of Marine Forces Reserve and Marine Forces North.
Kelly is the 14th marine from the 3/5 to be killed in the Sangin Area of Helmand province since Oct. 8, 2010.
