Steven Dellinger, 18, is polite and quietly determined. "Steven is sometimes hard to read,’’ said his recruiter, Marine Staff Sgt. Juan Diazdumeng. "He has a huge heart. He’s a very hard worker.’’ He joined because he wanted a challenge and was willing to serve in combat. "I love how the Marines train really hard-core,’’ he said. "I like their pride, the way they make you work so hard to accomplish stuff so that really means something to you.’’

Daniel Motamedi, 18, is quick-witted and irreverent. "He’s always excited, always happy. He’ll keep morale up, and that’s huge for the Marines,’’ said his recruiter, Marine Staff Sgt. Juan Diazdumeng. Daniel, whose father is from Iran and whose mother is from El Salvador, says he joined the Marines, in part, because "both my parents are immigrants, and I feel this is one way to pay back what they’ve done for me.’’ In high school in Santa Clarita, Daniel joined ROTC, read books about Marine Corps traditions, and watched the History Channel for military documentaries.

Daryl Crookston, 18, is thoughtful and articulate. "Daryl is a thinker – a heavy, heavy thinker. He has to analyze everything,’’ said his recruiter, Marine Staff Sgt. Juan Diazdumeng. Daryl bought books and searched the internet for detailed information on the Marine Corps. Daryl and his parents, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, are deeply religious. He took a Bible to boot camp and read it regularly.