Corporal Kevin Cueto and his friend, Corporal Matthew Sampson. Cueto died in Afghanistan on June 22, 2010. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY – Operation Tango Mike supporters are mourning the loss of Corporal Kevin Cueto.

The 23-year-old Marine died June 22 while supporting combat operations of Operation Enduring Freedom in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan.

Cpl. Cueto was from San Jose and was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif.

Though not from Lake County, Cueto was referred for care packages by his fellow Marine and best friend, Cpl. Matthew Sampson, a former resident of Clearlake Oaks.

Sampson, just home from his own deployment, drove cross country to be at the military mortuary in Dover, Delaware when his best friend arrived.

Cpl. Sampson spent time there with the Cueto family before making the return trek to California.

“Kevin was private about stuff and his job as a Marine,” said Sampson. “You know, we all join for different reasons, but consider what we do as doing our job."

He added, “Out of all the Marines I've ever met, he was my best friend. All Marines are brothers, but he was as close as a blood brother."

Cpl. Sampson said of his friend and fellow Marine, “I know there is no other way he would have wanted to die but on the battlefield serving his country."

Cpl. Cueto was laid to rest in San Jose last Saturday.