NC Marine remembered for his love of life, Corps

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Lance Cpl. Mason Vanderwork loved his 19-year-old wife Taylor, his Mustang convertible and going to North Carolina’s beaches.

But his young widow said Thursday he most loved being a Marine.

Taylor Vanderwork says she is working with family in Hickory and the Marine Corps to prepare for memorial services for her husband of just nine months.

The graduate of Hickory High School says she had last spoken with 21-year-old Mason in the past few days and she had looked forward to seeing him next week.

Vanderwork was one of seven Marines from the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force killed in a mortar accident in Nevada late Monday.

Eight other servicemen were injured when a mortar shell exploded in its firing tube during a firing exercise at the Hawthorne Army Depot.

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Susanne M. Schafer can be reached on Twitter at http://twitter.com/susannemarieap.