DoD Identifies Marine Casualties

[vanmac]

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Casey Casanova, 22, of McComb, died May 3, 2008, in Iraq. Visitation is 1 p.m. Saturday at New Heights Baptist Church, 5140 Highway 98 West, Summit, until services there at 3, with Pastor Chris Jones, Pastor Paul Clark and the Rev. Rick Kennedy officiating. Burial with full military rites will be in Adams United Methodist Church Cemetery in the Auburn community, with Hartman-Sharkey Funeral Home in McComb in charge.

Lance Cpl. Casanova was born March 27, 1986, in Metairie, La. She was the daughter of Craig Lewis Casanova of St. Rose, La., and Paula Carruth of McComb.

She was a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in McComb. She attended North Pike Middle School, where she played in the band, and was a graduate of Bass Memorial Academy in Lumberton. She graduated from Southwest Mississippi Community College, where she was a singer and played steel drums in the stage band. She was a leader in the New Heights Baptist Church youth group.

Her family said Casey was a loving and outgoing person. She loved to spend time helping people. She spent a lot of her time volunteering to feed the hungry. She was a selfless and giving person and was a person whom everyone loved and loved to be around. She will be greatly missed by all. Lance Cpl. Casanova was preceded in death by an uncle, Kirk Bing.

Survivors include her mother; her maternal grandparents, John Paul and Kitty Carruth of McComb; her maternal great-grandmother, Ruth Williams Carruth of Summit; her fiancé, Cpl. Brandon Henderson of Camp Pendleton, Calif.; an uncle and aunt, Bruce Wayne “Batman” and Sandra Carruth of Jefferson, La.; two cousins, Molly Ann Carruth and Bruce Wayne Carruth Jr., both of Jefferson, La.; her father; two sisters, Bailey and Alana Casanova, both of St. Rose; her paternal grandparents, Lynne Rivet of New Orleans and James Casanova of Metairie.

[thedrifter]

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 432-08
May 20, 2008


DoD Identifies Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Cpl. William J. L. Cooper, 22, of Eupora, Miss., died May 19 while supporting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Media with questions about this Marine can contact the II MEF public affairs office (910) 451-7200.

Ellie

RIP

[vanmac]

He gave his dad a hero and his country his life.

On Sunday, Marine Cpl. Justin Cooper of Eupora was killed in combat in Afghanistan.

Cooper's father, Alan Cooper, said he was told by Marine officials who visited his home Sunday night that the 22-year-old died after he was shot in the chest, just above his body armor, during a fire fight.

"I never knew so many people could break down and cry over the phone when you tell them something like that," Alan Cooper said as he tried not to sob.

"He had more friends than anyone I know. He was daddy's hero; now he's everyone's hero."

Being a Marine was something Cooper had always dreamed about, his father said.

After he graduated from Eupora High School in 2004, Justin Cooper attended Holmes Community College for one semester before enlisting in the Marines. It was Christmas Eve when he told his father he was going to be a Marine.

"I remember telling him he needed to have a lot of thought before doing this. He felt his country needed him at the time more than he needed school," Alan Cooper said.

He served two tours in Iraq, rising quickly through the ranks. Alan Cooper said he was told his son was one of the best scout snipers the Marines had seen in decades.

Heather Burchfield, 23, went to high school with Justin Cooper and said he was one of the best friends a person could have.

"Coop was that fun-loving, crazy guy everyone liked. He's the one you always wanted on your side because he is always going to take up for you," she said. "Even in high school, he had a soldier's heart. He was a very loyal friend."

Lee Baker, 22, of Eupora said he and Justin Cooper were by each other's sides through almost every experience growing up. Both were born the same day and were like brothers, he said.

"Our whole town is hurting for the loss of Justin. He's going to be severely missed and always remembered," Baker said.

Funeral arrangements are expected to be made later this week. His family has not been told when his body will arrive from overseas.

Family members and friends are planning a candlelight vigil at 7 p.m. Sunday at White Creek Lake in Eupora.

Cooper is one of more than 60 military members with strong ties to Mississippi killed in Iraq or Afghanistan since those conflicts began.

Earlier this month 22-year-old Marine Lance Cpl. Casey Casanova of McComb was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq.

--from The Clarion-Ledger, Jackson, Miss., March 20, 2008

[thedrifter]

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 467-08
June 02, 2008


DoD Identifies Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Cpl. Christian S. Cotner, 20, of Waterbury, Conn., died May 30 from a non-hostile incident in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Wing Support Group 17, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan.

The incident is currently under investigation.

Media with questions about this Marine can contact the Okinawa public affairs office at 011-81-611-745-0790 or OkinawaPAO@usmc.mil .

Ellie

RIP

[thedrifter]

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 505-08
June 16, 2008


DoD Identifies Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Lance Cpl. Javier Perales Jr., 19, of San Elizario, Texas, died June 11, from a non-hostile incident in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

The incident is currently under investigation.

Media with questions about this Marine can contact the 2nd Marine Division public affairs office at (910) 450-6575.

Ellie

RIP

[thedrifter]

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 506-08
June 16, 2008


DoD Identifies Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Lance Cpl. Kelly E. C. Watters, 19, of Virginia Beach, Va. died June 11, from wounds suffered while supporting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Media with questions about this Marine can contact the 2nd Marine Division public affairs office at (910) 450-6575.

Eliie

RIP

[yellowwing]

Such good men giving their Last Measure.

[thedrifter]

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 507-08
June 16, 2008


DoD Identifies Marine Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the death of four Marines who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Sgt. Michael Toussiant-Hyle Washington, 20, of Tacoma, Wash.

Lance Cpl. Layton Bradly Crass, 22, of Richmond, In.

Pfc. Dawid Pietrek, 24, of Bensenville, Ill.

Pfc. Michael Robert Patton, 19, of Fenton, Mo.

All four Marines died June 14 while supporting combat operations in Farah Province, Afghanistan. They were assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.

Media with questions about these Marines can contact the 1st Marine Division public affairs office at (760) 763-5397.

Ellie


RIP

[thedrifter]

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 521-08
June 20, 2008


DoD Identifies Marine Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of two Marines who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Capt. Eric Daniel Terhune, 34, of Lexington, Ky.

Lance Cpl. Andrew Francis Whitacre, 21, of Bryant, Ind.

Both Marines died June 19 while conducting combat operations in Farah Province, Afghanistan. They were assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.

For more information about these Marines may contact the 1st Marine Division public affairs office at (760) 763-5397.

Ellie

RIP

[SSgt Blue]

I just attended the service for the Capt Terhune and the Lcpl Whitacre hear in Khandhar Afghanistan. Not mentioned in this was a fallen Sgt and the Doc that was also last as well. To the Marines that I'm serving with right now in 2/7 that have given there lives I say THANK YOU......

[thedrifter]

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 538-08
June 26, 2008


DoD Identifies Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Staff Sgt. Christopher D. Strickland, 25, of Labelle, Fla. died June 25, while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

News media representatives with questions about this Marine may contact the 1st Marine Logistics Group public affairs office at (760) 725-5043.

Ellie

RIP

[thedrifter]

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 545-08
June 27, 2008


DoD Identifies Marine Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of three Marines who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The following Marines died June 26 while supporting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq:

Lt. Col. Max A. Galeai, 42, of Pago Pago, American Samoa.

Capt. Philip J. Dykeman, 38, of Brockport, N.Y.

Cpl. Marcus W. Preudhomme, 23, of North Miami Beach, Fla.

The Marines were assigned to 2d Battalion, 3d Marines, 3rd Marine Division, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

For additional background information on these Marines, news media representatives may contact the Marine Corps Base Hawaii public affairs office at (808) 257-8840/70.

Ellie

RIP

[thedrifter]

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 555-08
June 30, 2008


DoD Identifies Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Staff Sgt. Edgar A. Heredia, 28, of Houston died June 26 while supporting combat operations in Farah province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command.

For additional background information on this Marine, news media representatives may contact the MARSOC public affairs office at (910) 450-6499.

Ellie

RIP

[FistFu68]

REST IN PEACE~S/SGT.OF U.S.MARINES

[thedrifter]

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 609-08
July 17, 2008


DoD Identifies Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Lance Cpl. Jeffery S. Stevenson, 20, of Newton, N.J., died July 13 from a non-hostile incident in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to the 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

The incident is currently under investigation.

For additional background information on this Marine, news media representatives may contact the Camp Pendleton public affairs office at (760) 725-5043.

Ellie

RIP