NEVADA -- A Marine from Marietta, Ohio is one of seven who died when a mortar exploded during a training exercise in Nevada. Lance Corporal Joshua Taylor, 21, died Monday night.
His family told the Associated Press Josh had worked with mortars and served tours in Afghanistan and Kuwait, and had dreamed being in the Corps since watching the History Channel as a boy. He joined right after graduating from a high school in Marietta, Ohio, in 2010.
Taylor's grandfather, Larry Stephens, said Taylor was engaged to be married, with a wedding planned for May. His fiancee's father called him an exceptional person.
"You don't meet many young men like him today," Keith Malone told The Marietta Times. "He was respectful to everyone, very humble, just happy, happy all the time."
The military is now investigating why a 60 millimeter round detonated inside a mortar tube, and until they find an answer, that type of ammunition will not be used.
His family told the Associated Press Josh had worked with mortars and served tours in Afghanistan and Kuwait, and had dreamed being in the Corps since watching the History Channel as a boy. He joined right after graduating from a high school in Marietta, Ohio, in 2010.
Taylor's grandfather, Larry Stephens, said Taylor was engaged to be married, with a wedding planned for May. His fiancee's father called him an exceptional person.
"You don't meet many young men like him today," Keith Malone told The Marietta Times. "He was respectful to everyone, very humble, just happy, happy all the time."
The military is now investigating why a 60 millimeter round detonated inside a mortar tube, and until they find an answer, that type of ammunition will not be used.