The family of a Camp Lejeune Marine says it is seeking truth and justice for his death in Afghanistan, claiming a fellow marine stabbed and killed him.

The Defense Department says 21 year old Corporal Dave Santos of Marianas Islands of the Pacific died Friday in Helmand Province and that his death remains under investigation.

His family tells their hometown newspaper, The Saipan Tribune, preliminary information relayed to them was that their son was allegedly stabbed by a fellow marine on the left side of his neck and died some two hours later.

The defense department also reports a Second Camp Lejeune Marine died in Afghanistan last Friday.

He's identified as 27 year-old Staff Sergeant Justus Bartelt of Illinois.

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Department of Defense officials say two North Carolina-based Marines have been killed in Afghanistan.

The Department of Defense said Monday that 21-year-old Cpl. Dave M. Santos of Rota, Marianas Islands of the Pacific, and 27-year-old Staff Sgt. Justus S. Bartelt of Polo, Ill., died on July 16 in Helmand province.

Santos and Bartelt were assigned to 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune.

Marines from Camp Lejeune started deploying last year to Afghanistan as part of a surge of forces to the central Asian country. In the last few months, the Taliban has ramped up attacks against troops. June was one of the deadliest months for international forces in Afghanistan.