A former U.S. Marine from Southern California was among the 11 people who died Friday in a plane crash in Afghanistan.
The Marine was identified Monday as 29-year-old Chris Ruiz, a resident of Menifee. Ruiz served 10 years in the Marines. He also worked for a private contractor dealing with armory.
Ruiz was among six U.S. airmen and five civilians who were killed shortly after the aircraft departed Jalalabad Airfield.
Lorelyn Ruiz, Chris Ruiz' wife, spoke to NBC4 less than one week after she discovered her husband was killed. Lorelyn said Ruiz sent her a text message right before the plane took off. She never received a text message after that, she said.
"Words can't express how much I miss him and I wish I just had five more minutes,” Lorelyn said.
It’s unknown what caused the plane to crash.
Ruiz left behind his wife and three children, all under five years old.
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“I know that he would just tell me, ‘you gotta keep going for both of us,”’ Lorelyn said.
A GofundMe account was set up to help support his family at https://de.gofund.me/ChrisRuiz .
