Paul E. Conlon Jr., Private, first class

Paul Edward Conlon Jr. died in Afghanistan on Aug. 15, 2008, when a roadside bomb blew up the vehicle on which he served as a gunner. He was 21.

Mr. Conlon was born and raised on Cape Cod and was a resident of Mashpee. He graduated from Mashpee High School with the Class of 2005. Following high school, he joined the U.S. Army and was deployed to Afghanistan on Feb. 1, 2008, shortly after graduating from boot camp. During combat in Afghanistan, he was wounded but continued to fight, saving the lives of many soldiers. He later refused surgery to stay with his unit. His military awards include two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star of Valor.

He excelled in art, music, writing and poetry. Franklin Pierce College offered him a scholarship based on his writing ability, but he turned it down to serve his country. He was a member of Civil Air Patrol, Cape Cod Composite Squadron.

He was the son of Maria (Baron) Conlon of Somerville and John M. Borges of Taunton; brother of Daniel Conlon Mahoney of Hyannis; grandson of Luzia “Lucy” Baron of Mashpee; great-grandson of Maria “Avo” Darosa of Somerville; great-nephew of Maria “Titi” Darosa of Somerville; nephew of John J. Baron II and his wife, Erika, of Mashpee, William H. Baron III of Sandwich, Laura Lee Baron of California and Victoria A. Baron of Sandwich; and cousin of Danielle M. Auld of Somerville and Douglas Baron, John Baron III, Mathew Baron and Conor Baron, all of Mashpee. He is also survived by his Band of Brothers of 1-506, Task Force Red Currahee in Afghanistan; his namesake, Paul E. Conlon Sr., of Cape Cod; and many other relatives.

A funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, Aug. 26, at 10 a.m. at Christ the King Church in Mashpee, with burial at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne. Calling hours are Monday, Aug. 25, from 2 to 6 p.m. in the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home at 74 Algonquin Ave. at Route 151 in Mashpee.