Colin Ismail Arslanbas

Colin Ismail Arslanbas was born May 19th, 2001 in Ormond Beach, Florida to Evren and Nicole Arslanbas. He grew up in O'Fallon, Missouri where he met his future wife, Gracen, in 4th grade. They were each other's elementary school sweethearts. While they went their separate ways after high school, they remained close friends. Gracen went to college at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) and Colin enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and reported to MCRD San Diego. 

After completion of Basic Training, Colin went on to the Infantry Training Battalion at the School of Infantry West. Upon completion, Colin reported to the Basic Reconnaissance Course where he was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal and earned the Reconnaissance Marine Military Occupational code, 0321. 

After completing BRC, Colin continued on to his insert schools pipeline to include Army Airborne School, Military Free-fall School, and SERE School. Following the insert schools pipeline Colin was assigned to 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, Alpha Company, in North Carolina where he was promoted to the rank of Corporal on May 1, 2022. 

Meanwhile, Gracen had transferred home from Ole Miss to Lindenwood University where she graduated, also in May 2022, with her B.S. in Exercise Science. Just as she was about to start another educational pursuit, she and Colin reconnected when he asked her to attend the Marine Corps Ball scheduled in November. Gracen thought this was a bit presumptuous as it was a long ways away. Colin, being Colin, suggested a visit to North Carolina for a weekend at the beach. From that point on, they were inseparable. Shortly thereafter, Gracen moved to North Carolina and together with their families, they wed in a private ceremony on February 18th, 2023. They lived happily together in Surf City, North Carolina for over a year. In March 2024, they shared the joyful news they were expecting their first child, due in November. 

During the Alpha Company Marine Expeditionary Unit work up, Colin was promoted to the rank of Sergeant on April 1, 2024. Tragically, several weeks later, Colin lost his life in a training accident on April 18, 2024. 

A message from Colin's wife, Gracen:  

Colin makes everything and everyone in this life better. He brightens a room within seconds of walking in it with his beaming smile and contagious laugh. He takes about 3 things in this life seriously. The first being his commitment to me since we were 9 years old. He always said he would never get married and just have a bunch of dogs unless he got to marry me. The second being his job/career. You wouldn’t know it because he is the most humble human being on this planet, however he is damn proud to be a Recon Marine. The third being golf. He just started to play within the last year and a half before his passing. Between the new clothes, clubs that my amazing father gifted him, balls he digs out of the woods, and golf youtube channels he watches he’s pretty much ready to go pro. What more could you want in life? Colin is the greatest friend you’ll ever have. He listens when you need him, he provides advice where it’s due, and he reminds the rest of us to simply enjoy every minute of everyday. He takes all things at face value and goes with the flow. He is the best damn cat dad in the entire world. He is a nerd for loving StarWars so much. He spends way too much money at Lululemon and Carhart. He loves Lana Del Ray, Zach Bryan, The Weekend, and Lany. He needs cold brew, peppermint zyn, a flannel with Birkenstocks, steak, and an IPA to have a good day. He’s not afraid to bust out dance moves. His favorite color is purple and he won’t do anything without his Costa sunglasses or without my hand in his. His deep voice is the most beautiful and profound thing I’ve ever heard. He is afraid of heights but willingly jumps out of planes for a living. In fact, it is his favorite thing to do. He is the better half of me in a million and one ways. He is my best friend and my true north. Colin gifted me the two most important purposes in my lifetime. The first, being his wife. And the second, being a mother. I’ll never be able to thank him enough for making my dreams come true. We were robbed of our time together, though a lifetime with him would’ve never felt like enough. Colin, baby, I love you more than anything in this world. I promise to never stop remembering and celebrating the gift that you are to this world.