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Family of fallen Marine flooded with support
By TIM GRANT, Times Staff Writer TAMPA -- Condolences poured in Friday to the family of the U.S. Marine who was killed by terrorists in Kuwait. The parents of Lance Cpl. Antonio Sledd received letters from Gov. Jeb Bush and the FBI. Flowers from people expressing sympathy for their son's death were left on the front porch of their north Hillsborough home. The family also was reunited with Antonio's twin brother, Michael Sledd, a Marine stationed in Japan.
The family had planned to hold a memorial service for their slain son today at Blount, Curry & Roel funeral home in Carrollwood. However, by late Friday, the body had not arrived in Tampa. Funeral arrangements are pending. Norma Figueroa, the twins' mother, has invited President Bush to attend the memorial service. A White House representative said Friday the president will be unable to attend. "The president wishes he could be at the funeral of every victim in the war on terrorism," said Jeanie Mamo, a White House press aide. "Unfortunately, that's not possible. His thoughts and prayers remain with the family and friends of Lance Cpl. Sledd. And his family should know that he did not die in vain." Sledd, 20, was killed by two gunmen who ambushed Marines from the 11th Expeditionary who were training near Kuwait City. The attackers then drove to a second location and attacked again before being killed by Marines, the Pentagon said. Fusco said Sledd received a posthumous promotion to corporal. The promotion papers and a certificate from the Department of Defense and the Marine Corps were delivered to the house Thursday, Fusco said. "We have his corporal's insignia here at the house," Fusco said. "It will be placed on his dress uniform for the memorial service." Sledd was honored at a ceremony Friday at Camp Pendleton in San Diego. He was based there before being deployed to Kuwait two weeks ago. Capt. Alison Salerno, a representative for Camp Pendleton, said the Marines of the 1st Marine Regiment formed up in military fashion before a chaplain who gave an invocation. The commanding officer also made remarks. Mrs. Figueroa sent an e-mail Thursday to President Bush relaying her anger at the way in which her son died. She also urged the president to help expedite her request to have Sledd's twin brother reassigned to noncombat duty, preferably at MacDill Air Force Base. Pentagon spokesman Maj. Riccoh Player said Friday that a "humanitarian transfer" for Michael Sledd is being processed. Meanwhile, as the family waits for Sledd's body to arrive, well-wishers have left potted flowers on the front porch, garnished with miniature U.S. flags. Gov. Jeb Bush mailed the family a handwritten note reading: "God's blessings on your family." On Friday, the governor said: "People lose their lives in war. When a loved one loses their life, or in this case, a fellow Floridian that is a Marine protecting our freedoms, it breaks my heart." Family members said one of Sledd's aspirations was to become an FBI agent. James F. Jarboe, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Tampa office, expressed his sympathy in a letter. "We understand it was his desire to one day become an FBI agent," Jarboe wrote. "From all accounts, he was certainly the type of dedicated and loyal American we seek to join our ranks." -- Times staff writer Jay Cridlin contributed to this report. Tim Grant can be reached at (813) 269-5311 or at grant@sptimes.com
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