by Jolene Toves

GUAM - Family, friends and fellow service members paid their last respects to Sergeant Eugene M. Aguon. He is another fallen hero from Guam who died while deployed in Afghanistan last month. Sergeant Aguon is remembered for his daring demeanor and his passion to serve our country. His second cousin Taylor Taitague says he loved the outdoors and was very affectionate and caring when it came to his family.

"Growing up he was an athletic person always trying to get involved in whatever -- actually grew up playing baseball with him. He was always that daredevil kid always wanted to go out and shoot the chickens you know instead of staying inside an playing video games. That wasn't him" Taitague reminisced.

Family and friends remembered Eugene as being the life of the party always bringing laughter and cheer to those who surrounded him. Growing up Taitague recalls Eugene being actively involved in his pursuit of a military career. Enlisting in the military before even graduating high school. While news of Eugene's passing was shocking and hit his family hard. According to family and friends Eugene was there doing what he wanted to do -- Being a soldier.

"I actually bumped into him maybe a week before he left at the Guam Premier Outlet. I asked him what he was up to he was itching to go out there actually. he was saying he wanted to go and me being the cousin you know I'm just like, 'be careful when you go out there.' I always knew he was a daredevil. He could handle himself, but I told him to be careful" acknowledged Taitague.

Close friend and high school classmate, JR Matanona recalls running into Eugene after he returned from training prior to deployment.

"He was like Taylor said; itching to go out already. I was like, 'Man you know this is going to be like your second or third -- you need to relax' and he was like, 'No this is what I want to do.' The army was Eugene's life. I don't think he would have traded it for anything. It's what he loved to do" Matanona recollected.

Sergeant Aguon was laid to rest at the Veteran's Cemetery in Piti. He and Specialist Dwayne Flores were part of the 600 Guam National Guard men and women deployed earlier this year to Afghanistan. They were killed in a suicide car bomb attack in Kabul last month.