NC-based Marine from Ohio dies in Afghanistan

CANTON, Ohio (AP) — Authorities say a Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based Marine from Ohio has died while conducting combat operations in Afghanistan.

The Pentagon today said 26-year-old Sgt. Daniel Patron of Canton died Saturday in Helmand province.

His parents tell The Repository newspaper in Canton that Patron was “selfless, brave and gutsy.” Mother Kathy Patron calls him “my hero.”

She says his military service was inspired by the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, and was to end in July, but he decided to extend his deployment. He also served in Iraq in 2005 and 2009.

Patron was assigned to 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force.

The newspaper reports he was a 2003 Perry High School graduate who had been married nearly two years.