A Marine from Camp Pendleton has been killed in Afghanistan, the Defense Department announced Monday.

Cpl. Eric Torbert Jr., 25, of Lancaster, Pa., was killed Saturday during combat in Helmand province, a Taliban stronghold, the Pentagon said. He was assigned to the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, at Camp Pendleton.

Torbert enlisted in September 2007. This was his first combat deployment.

-- Tony Perry in San Diego

Army Spc. Matthew Ramsey, 20, of Quartz Hill in the Antelope Valley was among six U.S. soldiers shot and killed Monday by an Afghan  police officer at an observation point near the Pakistani border.

The lone gunman fired at five of the six, including Ramsey, from behind as they were gathered together at an observation point in eastern Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, said Maj. Gen. John F. Campbell, commanding general of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Ft. Campbell, Ky.

All six soldiers were assigned to the 101st Airborne's 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team.

On Thursday, Campbell spoke about the shooting at a news conference at Ft. Campbell. The Times obtained a recording of the news conference from base officials.

Campbell said the incident took place during "a routine mission where the guys were going out on patrol with their partners."

"They had some tea and were getting ready for some firing," Campbell said. "The first round impacted. To the best of my knowledge, once it impacted that were making some adjustments and the lone ABP [Afghan border patrolman] fired at them, instantly killed five, then turned to where the platoon leader and the platoon sergeant were and shot the platoon sergeant."

At that point, other soldiers shot and killed the gunman.

"The whole thing was maybe five or 10 seconds in duration," Campbell said.

A Marine form Camp Pendleton has been killed in Afghanistan, the Department of Defense announced Thursday.

Marine Lance Cpl. James B. Stack, 20, of Arlington Heights, Ill., was killed  by small-arms fire Wednesday while on foot patrol in Helmand province, long a Taliban stronghold.

Stack, a  rifleman, was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton. He was on his first combat deployment.

Thirteen members of the battalion have been killed in Afghanistan in the last six weeks.

-- Tony Perry in San Diego

Readers are invited to share memories on the California's War Dead database. The Times' interactive database of Californians killed in Afghanistan and Iraq allows you to search by name, high school, hometown and more, as well as read hundreds of obituaries and view links to personal websites and other news reports.

Since late 2001, The Times has chronicled the lives of military personnel who have died while serving in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Their stories, photos and thousands of memories shared by friends and family have been collected in the California's War Dead database. 

Below are some thoughts shared by readers in recent days:

"I have my Flag up for you today my friend and neighbor. You are not forgotten. May you rest in peace."

— Sal, posted Thursday about Army Sgt. Jose Regalado, 23, of Los Angeles, who was one of two soldiers killed Nov. 12, 2008, in Mosul, Iraq, when an Iraqi Army soldier wearing a uniform approached the men and opened fire.

"Can never forget the day you left, can never forget our brotherly bond, can never forget the sacrifice you so willingly gave. I have always held you in high esteem, through dark times and better times... you were and will always be my foundation, bro. It's sad you never got a chance to see your son, but he will know you and why you did what you had to. He is already proud. Much love to a fallen hero, a fallen brother. see you on the other side."

— MIG, posted Wednesday about Marine Lance Cpl. Rogelio A. Ramirez, 21, of Pasadena, who was killed Aug. 26, 2007, while on a convoy-security detail in Iraq's Anbar province, west of Baghdad.

Some streets in downtown Los Angeles will be closed briefly Tuesday and Wednesday for a public visitation and private funeral services for Joshua J. Cullins, a Marine reservist and Los Angeles police officer killed in Afghanistan.

Cullins, 28, was killed Oct. 18 by a secondary bomb as he and his unit investigated an earlier roadside explosion in Helmand province. He is the second LAPD officer to be killed while deployed overseas in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Visitation will be held from noon to 8 p.m. in the Ronald F. Deaton Civic Auditorium at 100 W. 1st St. Main Street will be closed between 1st and 2nd streets during the event, which is open to the public.

A U.S. Marine from Camp Pendleton has been killed in Afghanistan, the Pentagon announced Monday.

Cpl. Jorge Villarreal Jr. was killed by a roadside bomb Sunday while on foot patrol in Helmand province.

Villarreal, 22, a motor vehicle operator from San Antonio, was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force from Camp Pendleton.

Villarreal enlisted in the Marine Corps in February 2007. He had deployed with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit to the Western Pacific in 2008.

Earlier Monday, the Pentagon announced another Camp Pendleton Marine had been killed in Helmand province.

-- Tony Perry

A U.S. Marine from Camp Pendleton has been killed in combat in Afghanistan, the Pentagon aounncued.

Sgt. Ian M. Tawney, 25, of Dallas, Ore., was killed Saturday while on a combat operation in Helmand province in southern Afghanistan.

Tawney was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Expeditionary Force from Camp Pendleotn.

He is the 10th Marine from the 3rd Battalion-5th Marine regiment to be killed in the last two weeks.

-- Tony Perry at Camp Pendleton

Another Marine from the Camp Pendleton-based 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment has been killed in Afghanistan, the eighth Marine from the battalion to die in combat this week.

Lance Cpl. James D. Boelk, 24, of Oceanside was killed Friday by a roadside bomb during a foot patrol in Helmand province, a Taliban stronghold.

A rifleman, Boelk enlisted in March 2009. He was on his first combat deployment.

The Three-Five is part of the 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, at Camp Pendleton.

-- Tony Perry in San Diego

Readers are invited to share memories about James Boelk on the California's War Dead database, which chronicles the lives of more than 600 Californians who have died while supporting the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Four Marines from Camp Pendleton were killed by a roadside bomb during combat operations in Afghanistan, the Pentagon announced Thursday.

The four, all members of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, were killed Wednesday in Helmand province, a Taliban stronghold. The battalion had arrived in Afghanistan only weeks ago.

Killed were:

-- Cpl. Justin J. Cain, 22, a machine gunner, of Manitowoc, Wis. He enlisted in June 2007.

-- Pfc Victor A. Dew, 20, an antitank assaultman, of Granite Bay, Calif. He enlisted in September 2009.

-- Lance Cpl. Joseph E. Rodewald, 21, a machine gunner, of Albany, Ore. He enlisted in November 2007.

-- Lance Cpl. Phillip D. Vinnedge, 19, an antitank assaultman, of St. Charles, Mo. He enlisted in September 2009.

The 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment is part of the 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force from Camp Pendleton. About 20,000 Marines and sailors are deployed to Afghanistan, half of them from Camp Pendleton.

For Vinnedge, Rodewald and Dew, this was their first combat deployment.

The deaths raise the toll to 20 troops from Camp Pendleton killed in Afghanistan since the offensive began in February against the Taliban stronghold of Marjah.

-- Tony Perry in San Diego

Readers are invited to share memories about Victor Dew on the California's War Dead database, which chronicles the lives of more than 600 Californians who have died while supporting the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Military officials Tuesday announced the combat death of Army Sgt. Brian J. Pedro, 27, of Rosamond.

Pedro was killed Saturday when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades in Pol-e-Khumri, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 2nd Engineer Battalion at White Sands Missile Range, N.M.

A man who answered the phone at the VFW Post in Rosamond, Pedro's hometown, said a memorial service is planned for Oct. 23. 

KGET-TV in Bakersfield reported that Pedro is survived by his wife, parents and younger brother. His mother, Lulalima Nelson, told KGET: "He had 14 aunts and uncles and over 50 cousins. He was loved by all and will be missed by a whole lot of people."

-- Megan Garvey

Readers are invited to share memories about Brian J. Pedro on the California's War Dead database which chronicles the lives of more than 600 Californians who have died while supporting the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.