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Fallen Marine's Remains Returned To Riverside County

RIVERSIDE (CBSLA.com) — The remains of a U.S. Marine from Temecula killed in Iraq during an Islamic State attack were returned to Riverside County Saturday.

The casket bearing the body of 27-year-old Staff Sgt. Louis F. Cardin arrived at about 1 p.m. at March Air Reserve Base, following a flight from Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, according to published reports.

Cardin's body will be taken to Hemet in preparation for a public service at Temecula City Hall Friday, city officials confirmed.

Cardin is scheduled to be interred at Riverside National Cemetery.

The Chaparral High School alumnus was among several hundred Marines who recently deployed to a fire support base near Makhmour, in northern Iraq, as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, according to military officials. The objective is to dislodge Islamic State fighters from Mosul, which is under siege by Kurdish forces.

The base came under attack by Islamic State fighters last Saturday and Cardin was mortally wounded, according to the Department of Defense.

"Cardin's service and his many important contributions will long be remembered by his fellow Marines, his teammates at United States Central Command and a grateful nation," Army Gen. Lloyd J. Austin said earlier this week.

"Our gratitude and heartfelt condolences go out to this young man's family and friends."

The artilleryman had served three tours of duty in Afghanistan before deploying to Iraq. He joined the Marine Corps in June 2006 and was attached to the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Flags were flown at half-staff this week throughout California in his honor.

"I'm just out here to honor a man who gave his life," Corona resident Dru Rigney said.

(©2016 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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