CAMP BLESSING, NANGALAM, Afghanistan -- -- Marines and Sailors of 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, honored one of their fallen brothers in a memorial ceremony at Camp Blessing in Konar Province, Afghanistan on Sept. 29.Lance Cpl. Stephen A. Valdez, machinegunner, from Bebe, Ark., died on Sep. 26 as a result of enemy mortar fire.Valdez graduated from Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego on June 2, 2004. After completing training at School of Infantry, he reported to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment. Valdez deployed with 2/3 to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom earlier this year.“He was a lifer (referring to his desire to stay in the Marine Corps until retirement). He knew this was what he wanted to do,” said Lance Cpl. Brandon S. Rall, machinegunner, from Worthington, Minn. “He loved the Marine Corps, and he loved the infantry.”Friends of Valdez remember him as an outgoing, confident young man who showed intense focus on whatever task was at hand. He liked to workout and play all types of sports, especially football and had hoped to one day play for the Marine Corps football team.“He was good at everything he did. No matter what it was he was doing, he gave it everything he had. Besides being a workout fanatic, he was also a video-game fanatic. He loved to play NCAA 2006,” said Pfc. Michael D. Scholl, machinegunner, from Lincoln, Neb.Members of his squad and other friends talk with admiration about the way he took pride in being a Marine -- how he always bragged about his brother and cousin who were Marines. He talked a lot about his family, friends and girlfriend from back home. They were all very important to him, according to those that knew him. He is also remembered as a Marine who accomplished the missions given to him, no matter what the difficulties.“Unfortunately, we’ve done this a few times, but the Marines conduct themselves in a professional manner, they take their time to mourn and carry on with the mission at hand -- the same way Valdez would do,” said 1st Lt. Matt D. Bartels, camp officer-in-charge, from Minneapolis, Minn.