Cpl. Trevor Aston

Cpl. Trevor D. Aston aspired to be a firefighter, mom said

By Monica Polanco

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Thursday, February 24, 2005

An Austin soldier was killed in a vehicle accident in Iraq this week, the Department of Defense said Wednesday.

Cpl. Trevor D. Aston, 32, died at 8:10 a.m. Tuesday Iraq time in Anbar province, where he faced combat. He was assigned to Marine Forces Reserve's 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division. The incident, which was described as nonhostile, is under investigation.

His mother, Jewel Aston, said he moved to Austin from El Paso about nine years ago. Trevor Aston had his first taste of Austin as an Austin Community College student. He also worked as a bartender at Jazz A Louisiana Kitchen on East Sixth Street and booked concert acts for a nearby nightclub.

"He loved Austin," his mother said.

He became a reservist after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. He wanted to be a firefighter either in Austin or in Houston, where his mother lives.

He had been in Iraq since August 2004 and had been promoted from lance corporal in December. He was an only child.

"He was very proud to serve his country and go where he was needed," his mother said.

Jewel Aston said her son was upbeat when she last talked to him Monday, just a few hours before he died.

"He was a good friend to many people," she said. "He was just an all-round, good, nice kid."

Trevor Aston will be buried in El Paso at Fort Bliss National Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Aston was at least the fifth Austinite killed since the war began in March 2003, and he was at least the 142nd Texas service member killed.