Lance Cpl. Ardenjoseph A. Buenagua dies during combat in Afghanistan

SAN DIEGO - A Camp Pendleton Marine was killed in combat in Afghanistan, the Pentagone announced today.

Lance Cpl. Ardenjoseph A. Buenagua, 19, of San Jose, died Nov. 24 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, according to the Department of Defense.

Buenagua was with the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division of the Marine Expeditionary Force based at Camp Pendleton.

So far there have been 1,298 U.S. deaths in Afghanistan related to Operation Enduring Freedom, according to the Pentagon.