thedrifter
07-12-07, 07:21 AM
Two Camp Pendleton corporals killed in Anbar province
By: GIG CONAUGHTON - Staff Writer
CAMP PENDLETON -- Two corporals from Camp Pendleton's I Marine Expeditionary Force were killed July 5 in Iraq's Anbar province, Defense Department officials said this week.
Cpl. Jeremy D. Allbaugh, 21, of Luther, Okla., and Lance Cpl. Steven A. Stacy, 23, of Coos Bay, Ore., were killed in separate incidents. According to reports from the men's hometown newspapers, Allbaugh was killed by a roadside explosion, and Stacy was shot about six miles northeast of Fallujah.
Chris Stevens, a friend of Stacy's, said by telephone from Oregon on Wednesday that Stacy was "adventurous," and was known as "Scuba Steve" by his friends because he was an avid diver who had worked for years at a sports store in Coos Bay before joining the Marines in November 2005.
Stacy was an infantryman in the 3rd Battalion of the 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division -- known as the "Thundering Third" -- and was serving his first tour of duty in Iraq.
Stevens said he met Stacy "seven or eight years ago" at a church group.
"He loved being out in the woods," Stevens said of his friend. "He loved going hiking, going fishing, hunting. He shot his first black-tailed deer last fall with his stepdad, Robert (Potts). He was a card, too. He'd do things to crack people up."
Allbaugh was a member of the 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. According to an article in The Sun in Oklahoma County, Allbaugh was an outgoing person who was always making people laugh and smile. The article said Allbaugh was a two-year team leader on his high school baseball team. It quoted Allbaugh's brother, Army 2nd Lt. Jason Allbaugh, as saying, "He believed in what he was doing and he believes that we should be there -- helping the Iraqi people."
Stevens said Stacy was equally dedicated, and that his friend had thought about joining the military for a few years before actually enlisting.
Stevens said he last talked to Stacy in June, after Stacy had arrived in Kuwait.
"He loved his country," Stevens said. "He knew what the war was, and he knew the risk. I don't think there was ever any question as to the branch of the military he would join. The Marines were his first choice. He knew they would be the most challenging."
-- Contact staff writer Gig Conaughton at (760) 739-6696 or gconaughton@nctimes.com.
Ellie
By: GIG CONAUGHTON - Staff Writer
CAMP PENDLETON -- Two corporals from Camp Pendleton's I Marine Expeditionary Force were killed July 5 in Iraq's Anbar province, Defense Department officials said this week.
Cpl. Jeremy D. Allbaugh, 21, of Luther, Okla., and Lance Cpl. Steven A. Stacy, 23, of Coos Bay, Ore., were killed in separate incidents. According to reports from the men's hometown newspapers, Allbaugh was killed by a roadside explosion, and Stacy was shot about six miles northeast of Fallujah.
Chris Stevens, a friend of Stacy's, said by telephone from Oregon on Wednesday that Stacy was "adventurous," and was known as "Scuba Steve" by his friends because he was an avid diver who had worked for years at a sports store in Coos Bay before joining the Marines in November 2005.
Stacy was an infantryman in the 3rd Battalion of the 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division -- known as the "Thundering Third" -- and was serving his first tour of duty in Iraq.
Stevens said he met Stacy "seven or eight years ago" at a church group.
"He loved being out in the woods," Stevens said of his friend. "He loved going hiking, going fishing, hunting. He shot his first black-tailed deer last fall with his stepdad, Robert (Potts). He was a card, too. He'd do things to crack people up."
Allbaugh was a member of the 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. According to an article in The Sun in Oklahoma County, Allbaugh was an outgoing person who was always making people laugh and smile. The article said Allbaugh was a two-year team leader on his high school baseball team. It quoted Allbaugh's brother, Army 2nd Lt. Jason Allbaugh, as saying, "He believed in what he was doing and he believes that we should be there -- helping the Iraqi people."
Stevens said Stacy was equally dedicated, and that his friend had thought about joining the military for a few years before actually enlisting.
Stevens said he last talked to Stacy in June, after Stacy had arrived in Kuwait.
"He loved his country," Stevens said. "He knew what the war was, and he knew the risk. I don't think there was ever any question as to the branch of the military he would join. The Marines were his first choice. He knew they would be the most challenging."
-- Contact staff writer Gig Conaughton at (760) 739-6696 or gconaughton@nctimes.com.
Ellie