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September 5, 2006

Update: Marine from East Providence dies in Iraq

EAST PROVIDENCE – A Marine from East Providence has died in Iraq.

Lance Cpl. Eric Valdepenas was killed Sunday while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq, according to an announcement posted early this evening on the Department of Defense Web site.

He was assigned to Marine Forces Reserve’s 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Ayer, Mass., the Defense Department notice said.

Valdepenas graduated in 2003 from Bishop Hendricken High School in Warwick, where he was an honors student and a co-captain in his senior year of the Hawks boys lacrosse team, according to the school's president, who confirmed his death earlier today.

“Eric was a bright young man, always upbeat and positive,” Hendricken President Brother Thomas R. Leto said.

The school received word today that Valdepenas died in Iraq, Leto said. Early this evening, the Department of Defense posted a notice announced his death on its Web site. It listed his home as Seekonk, Mass., but Leto said Valdepenas was from East Providence.

Valdepenas is the second Hendricken gradudate to die in Iraq, Leto said. Army Capt. Matthew August, of North Kingstown, was killed in Iraq on Jan. 27, 2004.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Administrators interrupted classes this afternoon, the second day back at the private Catholic boys' school, to announce the graduate’s death and to pray for Valdepenas and his family, Leto said.

“There was silence in the hallways after the announcement, and the fellows feel it,” Leto said.

The school will likely hold some kind of memorial service for Valdepenas, he added.

The school’s chaplain, Father Marcel Taillon, was in touch with the Valdepenas family today, Leto said.

Leto tried to call the family as well, he said, but the outgoing message on their answering machine said the father’s medical practice was closed due to a death in the family. An outgoing message only said “memory full” when projo.com called the number at 5:30 p.m. today.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 6:59 PM | Permalink

September 5, 2006

Update: Marine from East Providence dies in Iraq

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