18-year-old Marine from Riverside County killed in Iraq (Non-hostile shot to head..

A "non-hostile" bullet to the head?

Associated Press

CORONA, Calif. - A Marine from Riverside County who enlisted just days after his 18th birthday and then volunteered to ship out early to Iraq was killed near Baghdad, the military said.

Pfc. Jason Franco died of a gunshot wound to the head Oct. 31, just two months shy of his 19th birthday. The Defense Department called Franco's death, which occurred in the Al Anbar province, a "nonhostile incident." The shooting was under investigation.

Franco was assigned to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 11, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing in Miramar, Calif.

His family said Franco, a Corona resident, was inspired to join the military by his uncle and his father, Genaro Franco, who spent 20 years in the military, 13 of them as a Marine.

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