Marine corporal from Lancaster killed in Afghanistan

When Eric M. Torbert Jr.'s father informed friends on Facebook of his son's combat death Saturday in Afghanistan, the senior Torbert posted a portrait of his son in full Marine dress uniform.

Torbert's Facebook profile photo showed a different side: playing an electric guitar, with hair below his shoulders, sporting a denim vest with a Metallica patch and a Black Sabbath T-shirt.

The 25-year-old corporal from Lancaster was killed in Helmand province, a Taliban stronghold. He was a member of the First Combat Engineer Battalion, First Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, officials said.

He married Marcelle Sebastian on June 12, he said on his Facebook page. They lived in Vista, Calif., near Camp Pendleton, where he was stationed.

His body was scheduled to be returned late Monday at Dover Air Force Base.

Torbert, who graduated in 2003 from Penn Manor High School, enlisted Sept. 5, 2007.

On. Nov. 2, he told his friends on Facebook that it was his last day on U.S. soil. He was "heading to the other side of the world for a bit," he said. He estimated that he would be deployed in Afghanistan from seven to 10 months. It was his first combat deployment.

On Sunday, his father posted an update to the death announcement: "I pray to God those of you with loved ones serving in the armed forces never see the Black GMC Cargo Van pull to the front of your home with 2 uniformed officers exiting the vehicle, knowing as they approach the front door what it is they are about to say."

Torbert's awards include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

Besides his wife and father, he is survived by his mother, a sister, and a brother.