NAME: Nicholas McMahon
AGE: 19
HOMETOWN: Middleboro
FAMILY: Son of Joseph and Judy McMahon, attended Middleboro High School
SPECIALTY: Infantry. “I'm a grunt.”
WHY HE JOINED: “I wanted to go somewhere, see new things.”
CURRENT WHEREABOUTS: Infantry training at Camp LeJune, N.C.

NAME: Kyle Taylor
AGE: 18
HOMETOWN: Abington
FAMILY: Son of Paul and Karen Taylor, attended Abington High School.
SPECIALTY: Infantry, may become a sniper
WHY HE JOINED: “I want to go to Iraq. I want to go and fight for my country.”
CURRENT WHEREABOUTS: Finishing infantry training Camp LeJune, N.C.
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NAME: Veronica Goncalves
AGE: 19
HOMETOWN: Brockton
FAMILY: Daughter of Carmen and Moses Goncalves
SPECIALTY: Intelligence
WHY SHE JOINED: To test her limits. She left college for something more challenging.
CURRENT WHEREABOUTS: Combat training at Camp LeJune, N.C.
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NAME: Michael Farina
AGE: 21
HOMETOWN: Kingston
FAMILY: Son of Kellie and Vincent Farina, attended Silver Lake High School
SPECIALTY: Aircraft mechanic
WHY HE JOINED: “I felt I needed to serve my country.”
CURRENT WHEREABOUTS: Aviation mechanic training at Penniscola, Fla.


NAME: Brandon Doherty
AGE: 19
HOMETOWN: Abington
FAMILY: Son of Ann and Jim Doherty
SPECIALTY: Military Police
MOMENT OF TRUTH: “When I got my equipment, that's when it sank in. Wow, I'm here, I'm finally doing something with my life.”
CURRENT WHEREABOUTS: Military police training at Camp Leonardwood, Miss.
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NAME: Louis Bonitto III
AGE: 19
HOMETOWN: Brockton
FAMILY: Son of Karen and Louis Bonitto, attended Southeastern Regional Technical School, in Easton
SPECIALTY: Aviation mechanic
WHY HE JOINED: “Just because something's tough doesn't mean it's not good.”
CURRENT WHEREABOUTS: Weapons training at Camp LeJune, N.C.


NAME: William McCulloch
AGE: 19
HOMETOWN: Marshfield
FAMILY: Son of Matthew McCulloch and the late Donna McCulloch, attended Marshfield High School
HARDEST PART: “Sometimes there's not enough sleep. The first month was the toughest.”
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NAME: Kevin Gomes
AGE: 19
HOMETOWN: Taunton
FAMILY: Son of Maria and Tony Gomes, attended Taunton High School
SPECIALTY: Aviation mechanic
WHY HE JOINED: “After 9/11, my brother shipped out to Iraq. He was injured the first month. Shrapnel in his back. I want to help finish something he couldn't accomplish.”
CURRENT WHEREABOUTS: Heading to Penniscola, Fla., for aviation mechanic training. Finished combat training Camp LeJune, N.C.


NAME: Courtney McCarthy
AGE: 17
HOMETOWN: Plymouth
FAMILY: Daughter of Elizabeth Mazenkas and the late Kevin McCarthy, attended Plymouth North High School
SPECIALTY: Aircraft mechanic or building bombs
WHY SHE JOINED: “I'm feeling so much better about myself. I'm not just sitting there watching TV. It's a whole new world. It's probably the best decision I've ever made.”



NAME: Michael Ramsey
AGE: 19
HOMETOWN: Pembroke
FAMILY: Son of Nancy and George Ramsey, attended Pembroke High School
SPECIALTY: Logistics
WHY HE JOINED: “I'd still be still living at my parents, on bed watching TV,” if he didn't.
CURRENT WHEREABOUTS: Logistics training Camp LeJune, N.C. Finished combat training at Camp LeJune, N.C.
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NAME: Bryan Fermino
AGE: 19
HOMETOWN: Plymouth
FAMILY: Son of Dana and Sherrie Fermino, attended Plymouth High School
SPECIALTY: Aircraft mechanic
WHY HE JOINED: “The Marine Corps is my way.” Comes from a Marine family, dad says, “We have enough Marines for a platoon.
CURRENT WHEREABOUTS: Assault gunner and heavy weapons training, Camp Geiger, N.C.


NAME: Corey Morrill
AGE: 19
HOMETOWN: East Bridgewater
FAMILY: Son of Vicki LaCroix and Thomas Morrill, attended East Bridgewater High School
SPECIALTY: Infantry
BIGGEST CHALLENGE: The rifle range. “From the North, we don't shoot. I'm competing with all these people from the South. That's all they do is shoot.”
CURRENT WHEREABOUTS: Heading to Mississippi aviation specialty. Graduated from specialty training at Camp Geiger, N.C.