Marine from Lakeland killed in Afghanistan Associated Press LAKELAND, Fla. — A 23-year-old Marine from central Florida who volunteered to return to combat was killed in Afghanistan during his second tour of duty in two years. Cpl. Ronald R. Payne Jr., of Lakeland, died May 7 in hostile action near Tawara, according to the Department of Defense. “If I know Ron, he gave the last full measure,” said his father, Ronnie Payne. “And I am proud of that boy beyond words.” Payne had been part of the initial force that invaded Iraq and went to Baghdad, said Ed Buford, senior pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Lakeland. After the first tour ended, Payne volunteered to return to combat and was humble about his service, said his stepmother, Aileen Payne. “He was where he wanted to be,” she said. The reconnaissance scout and infantryman initially was sent to Afghanistan to help with the country’s elections, but the mission changed when elections were postponed. Payne and his best friend came under fire from militants, Buford said. Family and friends said the 6 foot tall Marine was a big man with a big heart, who would show off his slam-dunking talents and then let the shorter guys in his church’s youth group climb on his back to slam dunk, too. Payne is also survived by his mother, Kathy Seymour, of Lakeland, her husband and several step siblings. Payne was assigned to 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force out of Camp LeJeune, N.C.