Sgt. Alessandro Carbonaro

May 10, 2006
Iraq

28, of Bethesda, Md.; assigned to the 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died May 10 at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, from wounds received May 1 while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Anbar province, Iraq.

Sergeant Alessandro Carbonaro graduated from Sandy Spring High School in 1997. He played varsity Ice Hockey and organized a rock band that played shows in the Washington, DC area. After High School he went to work for a year at his uncle’s publishing company in Naples, Italy. There he formatted text that was to be translated for new pages on Italian books; he also studied Italian.

After graduating Marine Corps Boot Camp in 1998, Sergeant Carbonaro went to A school in Pensacola, Florida for Aviation Electronics, where he learned electrical maintenance of Marine Corps fixed wing aircraft. Upon completion of A school he was stationed in Iwakuni, Japan, where he performed maintenance on F/A-18, and Harrier generators, panels, throttle grips, altimeters and similar electronics. Following a 12-month tour in Japan, Sgt Carbonaro received orders for I&I duty, MAG-49 in Newburgh, New York, where he performed maintenance on C-130’s and trained reservists. He also became a Collateral Duty Inspector as a Lance Corporal, a billet usually reserved for a Sergeant, which required him to inspect and approve gear prior to returning it to the Aircraft.

Sergeant Carbonaro successfully passed the Reconnaissance Screening in November 2002, was assigned to the Reconnaissance Training Platoon and graduated ARS in December of 2003. Upon completion of ARS, he attended SERE School in Brunswick, Maine. In September 2004 he deployed with Alpha Company, 3rd Platoon to Camp Fallujah, Iraq. After returning from the 7 month deployment in April, Sergeant Carbonaro married the former Gilda María Arroyo on May 28, 2005.

Sergeant Carbonaro’s awards include the Purple Heart (2), Combat Action Ribbon, Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (2), Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (2), National Defense Service Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, and the Iraq Campaign Medal.

Camp Lejeune Marine Dies From Injuries Received In Iraq
11 May 2006
Marine Sergeant Alessandro Carbonaro, who died Wednesday from injuries received while fighting in Iraq, made a great impression on all who met him and was an extremely honest and dedicated man, his father said Thursday.

"I never saw him so dedicated" after joining the 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Fulvio Carbonaro said of his son.

Carbonaro, 28, of Bethesda, Maryland, died of injuries he sustained May 1, 2006 while conducting combat operations in Anbar province of Iraq, the Defense Department said. An IED exploded near a Humvee he was driving, Fulvio Carbonaro said Thursday by phone from Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, where Fulvio and Gilda Carbonaro went to see their son after he was wounded.

Alessandro Carbonaro graduated from Sandy Spring High School in 1997. He enjoyed ice hockey and playing music. He and several friends were in a band that played local shows before he deployed.

He joined the Marines in 1998, his father said.

This was Carbonaro's second tour of duty in Iraq. On his first tour, he was hurt in Fallujah and received a Purple Heart. He returned to Iraq in March.

His family said the Marine was totally committed to serving his country and the war effort.

"He only had his job to do and that's all that really mattered," his father said.

Fulvio Carbonaro said doctors at the hospital were deeply moved by his son and are planting a tree in a park near the hospital in his memory.

Through tears, Fulvio said, "Regardless of how people feel, everybody is totally dedicated ... to the people in uniform who sacrifice themselves."

Alessandro Carbonaro is also survived by his wife, who is also named Gilda.