Army Teenager Killed In Afghanistan Returns To Riverside

MORENO VALLEY – A local community remembers a teenager killed in action in Afghanistan.

Army Private Marcus Tynes was killed November 21st in Zabul province. His vehicle was hit by an explosive device. He was 19.

Private Tynes’ casket recently arrived at Dover Air Force Base. He now lays in state at a funeral chapel in Riverside. As Tynes’ parents get in a military van heading to the cemetery, Valley View High School in Moreno Valley remembers their recent graduate.

His football coach, Jack Fogerty says, “During his senior year, he started to finally mature. He was a free spirit. He was great, a kid that just enjoyed life. He was friends with everybody. It didn’t matter who you were, he would just talk to you. During his senior year, he really started to understand what he had to accomplish to get in the military because that’s what his goal was, his dream was to always be in the military.”

English teacher Ben Harrer remembers a student who excelled at literature and returned to the school with pride, “He came back after graduation about a year ago in his military outfit. He was filled with pride. I was really proud seeing him like that. He looked mature. He looked confident. He had the fatigues and everything. He said basic training was tough, but football had prepared him for it. He was ready to ship out.”

Private Tynes’ parents did not want him to enlist in the Army. But he convinced them it would give him a future, a future now cut short.

One of his Army buddies writes online: “I’m going back to combat soon Tynes. I will get them back. You can bet on that. Rest in peace. You deserve it.”

Private Tynes will be buried Monday at 12:30 at Crestlawn Memorial Park in Riverside.