MARGATE, FL, USA U.S. Marines CPL, 2D TANK BN, 2D MAR DIV, CAMP LEJEUNE, NC FALLUJAH, IRAQ 04/15/2006
Marine CPL Mayorga moved to the United States in 1991 from Quito, Ecuador, later arranging for family members to join him. Family members including Mayorga moved to Broward County in 2001, but the events of September 11th deeply affected Mayorga, according to his cousin Eddie Gomez
Mayorga joined the Marines in 2002.After completing basic training, Mayorga learned that his high-school sweetheart, Paola, was divorced and had two girls. Recently divorced himself and the father of two, Mayorga called his former girlfriend. The two began e-mailing, writing letters and racking up enormous phone bills. They rekindled their old relationship.
It was like their love never went away, said his sister, Erika Mayorga. They were so happy. And her daughters became his daughters.
The two married in 2004 and bought a home near Camp Lejeune, N.C., where Mayorga was based. They were expecting the birth of their first child together, a son Vinnie.
Mayorga, who loved dogs, persuaded his wife to adopt three of them: a cocker spaniel, a Labradoodle and a Great Dane.
Our house was filled with laughter, Paola Mayorga, 31. It was filled with love.
Mayorga became an American citizen in August 2004 and left for Iraq a month later. He returned last year but left for Iraq again in March.
He was just a special person, a role model for me especially, said another sister, Sandra Mayorga. He is survived by Paola’s children, Emily, 10, and Brenda, 8, and children from previous marriages, Nicole, 13, and Alexander, 8.