E-8, E-2 killed in Afghan fighting

[thedrifter]

E-8, E-2 killed in Afghan fighting

Posted : Friday Jul 10, 2009 17:53:59 EDT

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — Two North Carolina-based Marines were killed Wednesday in Afghanistan, according to a Marine news release.

Master Sgt. John Hayes, 36, of Middleburg, Fla., and Lance Cpl. Roger Hager, 20, of Gibsonville, N.C., died supporting combat operations in Helmand province, where about 4,000 Marines and sailors with the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade launched a major offensive earlier this month.

Hayes and Hager were assigned to Alpha Company, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, at Camp Lejeune, according to the release. It’s unclear if they died in the same incident.

Hayes — survived by his wife, two daughters and a son — was the company’s operations chief. He joined the Corps in July 1991 and served a tour in Iraq in 2003 and again in 2007. He also supported operations in Kosovo and Albania in 1998 and Kuwait in 1991.

Hager joined the Corps in August 2007 to honor his grandfather, who served in the Army, his mother told the Times-News of Burlington, N.C. Elaine Hager said her son was a “happy-go lucky” man who enjoyed the outdoors, computers and video games.

She told the Times-News that Marine officials said her son died when the vehicle he was in hit a “homemade bomb.”

Ellie

[thedrifter]

Marine Corps IDs two recon Marines killed in Afghanistan
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July 10, 2009 - 4:41 PM
DAILY NEWS STAFF

The Marine Corps has released the names of two Camp Lejeune Marines killed Wednesday while supporting combat operation in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Master Sgt. John Hayes, 36, of Middleburg, Fla., and Lance Cpl. Roger Hager, 20, of Gibsonville were assigned to 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion.

Hayes, was the operations chief for Company A, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 3, according to a press release from II Marine Expeditionary Force. He joined the Marine Corps July 1991 and was promoted to the rank of master sergeant in September 2008.

Hayes deployed to Afghanistan in April. His previous deployments included Kosovo and Albania in 1998, Kuwait in 1991 and Iraq in 2003 and 2007.

Hayes is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son.

His awards include two Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medals, three Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medals, two Combat Action Ribbons, a Joint Meritorious Unit Award, a Navy Unit Commendation, two Navy Meritorious Unit Citations, five Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals, two National Defense Service Medals, and Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, a Southwest Asia Service Medal, two Kosovo Campaign medals, a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Armed Forces Service Medal, two Humanitarian Service Medals, six Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, a Marine Security Guard Ribbon, two NATO Medals, and the Kuwait Liberation Medal.

Some of his formal military training included School of Infantry, U.S. Army Airborne School, Marine Combat Dive School, Marine Scout Sniper School, U.S. Army Ranger School and Marine Security Guard School.

Hager was a small arms repairman assigned to Company A, 2d Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 3, 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade, according to the release. He joined the Maine Corps in August 2007 and was promoted to the rank of lance corporal in March of 2009. He deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in April.

Hager’s awards include the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. His formal military training included Recruit Training, Marine Combat Training and Small Arms Repair School.

Ellie