Marine was to be home within days

Monday, Feb. 14, 2005 | 9:39 a.m.

A 19-year-old Marine reservist from Las Vegas, who was expected home within days, was killed last week when a truck rolled over him near Ramadi, Iraq.

Lance Cpl. Richard Perez Jr., had 10 more days left to serve in Iraq on Thursday when he became the third Las Vegas serviceman killed in Iraq this year.

"I guess what shocked people the most is it was close to Rich coming home," said George Carson, co-owner with Milian Quinteros of AllTalkRadio.net.

The family was in seclusion on Sunday and could not be reached for comment.

"I spoke to him (the Marine's father) when it happened; what a shame," Quinteros said.

Perez's father, Richard, was in Hawaii to cover the NFL Pro Bowl. He called Las Vegas Friday night, Carson said, and canceled his appearance on the show because the Marines were coming to see him.

"He called back later and confirmed that his son had died," Carson said.

The Perezes flew home to Las Vegas on Saturday.

Perez Jr. had already shipped his belongings stateside and talked to his family on Super Bowl Sunday.

Officials with the Defense Department had not confirmed Perez Jr.'s death as of this morning, saying that official confirmation of deaths can sometimes be delayed. A spokeswoman said that an official confirmation could come sometime today.

Rich Perez, a sports talk radio host, had waited anxiously as his son had gone to Iraq in August.

Then came the fighting in Fallujah and the tense weeks leading up to the January elections in Iraq.

"We've been there together, we saw his ups and downs," Carson said of the father.

The elder Perez was so worried when his son was in Fallujah, he told co-workers that he though his son would never come back home.

"When his son came out of Fallujah, his spirits were lifted," Carson said.

Before leaving for Iraq last year, the younger Perez came to the studio with his father.

"He was a very nice guy, always joking, very easy going and very close to his father," Carson said.

Richard Perez enlisted with the Marine reserves after graduating from Coronado High School in 2003.

Perez volunteered for Iraq.

His father tried to get him to enter sports talk radio, Carson said. "As fathers and sons go, they were the best of friends," he said.

In honor of Perez, AllTalkRadio.net shut down its programming for three days and posted on its Web site a memorial to the fallen Marine.

Sister Karol Jackowski posted a prayer for the Perez family.

"There are no words to say that can make your pain go away," said Caryll Carson, host of Coffee with Caryll on the radio network.

"I know the feeling an it hurts me deep inside because I, too, was waiting to meet this fine young man who you called son and was so proud of," Carson said.

"He was one of the nicest young men that I've ever had the pleasure to meet and was the kind of young man that you'd hope your daughter would bring home someday," a message posted by Rick, without a last name, said.

Quinteros said that any e-mail messages left at www.alltalkradio.net will be shared with the Perez family.

Perez became the 12th serviceman from Nevada killed in the war on terrorism since fighting began in late 2001 in Afghanistan. An Arkansas airman stationed at Nellis Air Force Base has also died in the Middle East.