Sister of fallen Marine: He held family together

After he found out he was being deployed to Afghanistan, U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Nathaniel J. A. Schultz talked to his sister over the phone.

Deanna Maguire reminded her younger brother that when he enlisted, the entire family essentially enlisted. She begged him to return safely.

"I kept telling him, 'Don't come home in a box,' " said Maguire, who lives in Balm.

Her worst fears were realized Saturday when Schultz, 19, died in a combat operation while serving in the Helmand Province in Afghanistan, the U.S. Department of Defense said.

The news has been difficult for the family, Maguire said.

"He was the life link because of his personality," Maguire said. "He held us all together."

Schultz of Safety Harbor was the youngest of four siblings and the only male. He was born in Florida and his family moved from Coral Springs to Brandon in 2001.

He played acoustic and electric guitars and enjoyed skateboarding. He was an outdoorsman, who liked hiking, hunting, fishing and the beach. He was funny, articulate and helped keep the family united.

"He was an American boy," Maguire said. "He died an American hero. I'm so proud of him."

A 2009 graduate of Countryside High in Clearwater, Schultz joined the Marine Corps in June 2009. He was deployed to Afghanistan last month as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

He wanted to serve his country and he also wanted to assist the people, especially the children of Afghanistan.

"He was one who wanted to fix everything," Maguire said. "He wanted to help everybody."

He was a motivated, goal-oriented young man who dreamed of becoming an orthopedic surgeon. He was engaged to Britney Victoria of Virginia, Maguire said.

In the Marine Corps, Schultz was an assistant gunner. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat 7, I Marine Expeditionary Force Forward out of Camp Lejeune, N.C., and was promoted to lance corporal Aug. 1.

He had been awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

"He was a gift. He was just wonderful," Maguire said.

Schultz is survived by his mother, Lisa Naktin of Dover; and his three sisters, Deanna Maguire, of Balm; Charlotte Maguire of Gibsonton; and Grace Maguire of Riverview.

Funeral arrangements haven't been finalized.