14 February 2012

A Navy hospital corpsman deployed with a Camp Pendleton Marine unit in Djibouti died in training, the Pentagon announced.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Kyler L. Estrada, 21, of Maricopa, Ariz., was killed Tuesday serving with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. He died from a gunshot wound during a training exercise, according to the Naval Safety Center.

The Marine unit stopped in Africa during a sea tour, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and the war in Afghanistan.

Estrada described his job as "fix broken Marines," according to his Facebook page.

He is survived by his wife, Alyssa. "My best friend and my soul mate died," she wrote on her page.

"Kyler Estrada is now and always will be the one love of my life. Thank you baby for giving me enough happiness in one year to last me the rest of forever. I will never forget you my love."

Thanking family and friends for the outpouring of condolences, she said: "Kyler was so blessed to have so many people who cared about him, and always will."