Local Marine killed in combat

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A Bastrop County Marine was killed in Afghanistan this week when an improvised explosive device went off while he was on patrol.

Lance Corporal Cody Stanley, 21, was a 2006 graduate of Smithville High School. He grew up in the small community of Rosanky, about an hour southeast of Austin.

Stanley deployed to Afghanistan on October 7 and was on his second tour of duty. On leave from the Marines last year, he visited his alma mater, Smithville High School.

"Cody Stanley was an unbelievable young man," said his high school Algebra teacher, Marganna Martin. "He's the boy that as a mom you would say you were very proud that he was your son."

Martin recalled Stanley's visit last year and the last time she spoke to him.

"I remember the last words I said to him were, OK, keep your head down."

Lance Cpl. Stanley's high school English teacher, Tony Quitta fought back tears as he recalled that same visit last year.

"I got to shake his hand the last time he came through and I told him I was proud of him," said Quitta. "I asked him if he made the right decision and he said yeah, without a doubt, so I'm glad he was there for us."

Stanley was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, according to the Department of Defense.

Quitta recalled his first thought at hearing about Stanley's death.

"The first thing for us at Smithville is not again."

Cody Stanley is the third former Smithville High School student killed in combat in the last three years and the second just this year.

"He was a consummate country gentleman, he had morals, he had standards- he stood for everything that we want in our kids- he wasn't valedictorian, but I think every valedictorian in the United States would like to have the same standards that Cody had," said Quitta.

Stanley is survived by his parents and younger brother.

Funeral arrangements are pending.