A candlelight vigil was held Sunday in Michael DeMarsico's memory.
This photo provided by the Dept. of Defense shows Pfc. Michael R. Demarsico,II, 20, of North Adams, Mass., who was killed in Afghanistan.. NORTH ADAMS – An explosion from an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan killed a local resident who has served in the military since February 2011.
Pfc. Michael DeMarsico II, 20, was killed Thursday in Panjwa’l. He was an infantry soldier assigned to the 1st Battalion 23rd Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Stryker Brigade out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state, according to a statement released by the base public relations office, Sunday.
“He died of wounds sustained when he encountered an improvised explosive devices, according to the statement.
He was the only one to sustain serious injuries in the incident, said Don Kramer, a spokesman for the base.
DeMarsico graduated from Drury High School in North Adams in 2010 and joined the Army in February 2011. After basic training in Fort Benning, Ga., and advanced infantry and combat training he was assigned to Joint Base Lewis-McChord in July 2011.
In December, he was deployed with the brigade to Afghanistan, according to the statement.
DeMarsico received a number of awards and medals, including National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon, NATO Medal and Combat Infantry Badge, the statement said.
Dozens of friends and family members commended on a Facebook page in memory to DeMarsico, some calling him a hero and others commenting in disbelief and sorrow that he was killed.
According to the North Adams Transcript, DeMarsico was one of five children and had talked about joining the Army for most of his high school years.
“Ever since Michael was a little boy, he wanted to be in the Army,” said Laurie Douglas, DeMarsico’s aunt. “He was always playing with little toy soldiers and trucks. He wanted to be in the infantry.”
She told the newspaper that DeMarsico had written to his father and told him he recently accepted a position at the front of his unit to protect them from any bombs.
Mayor Richard J. Alcombright ordered flags on city property to be flown at half-staff until memorial services are completed.
A candlelight vigil was also held Sunday night to honor DeMarsico.
After the memorial services, a second service will also be held at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Kramer said.