Politics & Government

Jefferson Marine Hurt in Afghanistan Doing 'Great'

Sgt. Aaron Alonso, 25, who lost both his legs in an explosion last week could return to the United States soon.

A U.S. Marine from Lake Hopatcong who lost his legs last week in an explosion while serving in Afghanistan is doing "great," family members said.

Sgt. Aaron Alonso, 25, has undergone several surgeries in Germany and may be transferred as soon as next week to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

"Aaron's doing great," said Alonso's wife, Jessica, according to an update on a GiveForward.com page established to help fund her husband's medical expenses.

Jessica, the couple's daughter, Riley, and Alonso's parents, David and Debbie, flew to Germany this week. Riley was born just one week before Alonso, who has been a Marine for eight years, was deployed from his North Carolina home to Afghanistan.

"Riley showed her daddy how much she loves him by saying 'dada," the update on GiveForward.com reads.

Alonso had both of his legs amputated after an improvised explosive device blew up last Saturday while he was on patrol in Nad Ali, Afghanistan.

Alonso's brother, Devon, also served in Afghanistan before he was discharged from the Marine Corps in August. Their father, David, served in the Navy in Vietnam.

Kimberly Martin, who is married to Alonso's cousin, established the GiveFoward.com fundraising page, according to NJ.com.

About 700 donations have been made through the site, totaling about $60,000 as of Thursday morning.

John Frade, executive chef and managing partner at Cinders Wood Fire Grill in Mine Hill plans to donate 25 percent of sales from a Feb. 26 fundraiser to the Alonso family, according to the Daily Record. Frade has known Alonso since he was a child, the article said.

"The Alonsos exhibit such strength and so much love for one another it's exemplary," Martin wrote in an update on the fundraising page, "and there's not a doubt in my mind that they will persevere through not only this but anything and everything that lies ahead."


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here