Utah Marine Carlos Aragon remembered as good friend, brother

Lance Cpl. Carlos A. Aragon was remembered as a quiet man who didn't like the spotlight, was a good friend and liked doing things the hard way.

"He didn't like going up the trail at Bridal Veil Falls," said Brad Halliday, Aragon's stepfather, during Aragon's funeral Saturday in Lehi. "He went straight up the mountain the hard way. That's the way he liked things."

Halliday said he had encouraged Aragon to enlist in the Air Force. Aragon chose the Marines because it was more of a challenge.

"That's the way he liked things," Halliday said.

Aragon, 19, was killed Monday in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Following the service, he was buried with military honors by members of the United States Marine Corps at Veterans Memorial Park near Camp Williams.

Eduardo Ochoa, one of Aragon's two older brothers, said Aragon was prepared for a life of adventure at an early age.

"We were 12 and 10 years older than he was, so when he was 2 years old, we would put him on a skateboard and launch him down the sidewalk," Eduardo Ochoa said.

Armando Ochoa said his younger brother was proud of his Latin heritage. He was born in Chihuahua, Mexico, and moved with his family to Orem when he was 5. He was also thoughtful about his mother.

Halliday said his wife, Rosa, would receive flowers from Aragon on Mother's Day after he entered the military. The family learned later he had arranged for the deliveries before he left.

"He helped me to be a better man, a better husband, a better father and a better friend," Halliday said. "And he did it by example."

Robert Gardner, who was Aragon's bishop in his ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when Aragon lived in Orem, said as a young man Aragon was passionate about skateboarding; his guitar; old cars; and his long, curly hair. But he didn't have a need to be noticed.

"He was a quiet, humble young man. He didn't need any fame. He didn't need any glory. He didn't like to speak in front of people," Gardner said.

Gardner mentioned an incident where Aragon was helping a friend who had suffered a fender-bender tape the damaged hood down so the car could be driven to a mechanic.