9 Marines Killed In Iraq Identified

(CBS/AP)  The Department of Defense on Thursday identified nine Marines who have been killed in combat in the Al Anbar province in western Iraq over the last week.

Two of the Marines — Cpl. Derek Jones and Lance Cpl. Jeremy Sandvick Monroe — were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. They died on Oct. 8 from what the military called "wounds received while conducting combat operations." Jones was a 21-year old from Salem, Ore. Monroe, from Chinook, Mont., was 20.

Capt. Robert M. Secher, who also died on Oct. 8, was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, out of Okinawa, Japan.

Six of the Marines served with units of the 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force based at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Sgt. Julian M. Arechaga, 23, of Oceanside, N.Y.; Lance Cpl. Jon E. Bowman, 21, of Dubach, La.; and Pfc. Shelby J. Feniello, 25, of Connellsville, Pa., all died Monday in Anbar province. All three were assigned to 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment of the 2nd Marine Division.

Bowman's and Feniello's families said they were told the men died when their vehicle drove over a roadside bomb or "improvised explosive device."

"They told us he had been manning a .50-caliber machine gun in a Humvee when it was hit by an IED," said Jill Puckett, Bowman's mother.

Bowman joined the Marine Corps immediately after he graduated from Summerfield High School a little more than two years ago, she said.

Feniello's family said the men were rushing to the aid of Marines involved in a gun battle with insurgents near Ramadi when the vehicle was hit.

"They just went down the wrong road," said his father, Richard Feniello.

Feniello joined the Marines shortly after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. He began his second tour of duty in Iraq a month ago after an 11-month leave, his father said.

Cpl. Bradford H. Payne, 24, of Montgomery, Ala., and Lance Cpl. John E. Hale, 20, of Shreveport, La., were killed Oct. 6 during combat in the same region, the Pentagon said. Both belonged to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment of the 2nd Marine Division.

Funeral services for Payne are scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Vaughn Forest Baptist Church in Montgomery. Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Leak-Memory Chapel. Payne is survived by his wife, Erin Payne, and his parents, W. Howard and Carol Payne of Pike Road.

Another member of the unit, Lance Cpl. Stephen F. Johnson, 20, of Marietta, Ga., died in combat on Sunday.

Payne and Hale's families said they, too, were told the men had been killed by a roadside bomb.

Payne's parents said the only solace in their son's death is knowing he was killed while living his dream.

"He pretty much shot for (the Marines) in the sixth grade," Howard Payne said. "That's what he wanted to do."

Hale's military career, like Feniello's, was inspired by the 2001 terrorist attacks. He graduated from high school in 2005.

"He was very moved when 9-11 happened, and that was when he made up his mind to join the Marines," his sister, Paula Moreno, said.

---

In other developments:

Britain's army commandersaid that the country's military is making the situation worse in Iraq and must leave the country soon, according to media reports Thursday. Gen. Richard Dannatt said "our presence exacerbates the security problems," the British Broadcasting Corp. and Sky News television reported. Both stations were citing an interview in the Daily Mail newspaper.

Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell, the chief U.S. military spokesman in Iraq, said that since the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan about two weeks ago, attacks in Baghdad have been up 15 percent. Ramadan "historically has been a period of increased violence," he said. "We assume it will still get worse before it gets better — we expect violence to continue to increase over the next two weeks until the end of Ramadan."

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SharnCedar wrote:

"It is true that a nation can have enemies, terrible enemies, that must be met with force."

And sometimes the enemy comes from within your borders.

In this case, they are three of the most despicable and filthiest cowards/terrorists still roaming free - GW Bush, *** Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld.

They should be held accountable for their lies and crimes against Americans and non-Americans alike.

[mdmorell]

BUSH........are you listening to the comments below?? I hope you are, because YOU are the one generating them, and YOU will have to answer for the precious lives your deceit and foolhardiness are daily robbing from all of us. I wish it were here, but if not, then certainly in the hereafter.

[alphaa10-2009]

When the United States of America goes to war, it is an utterly serious matter-- not merely a ploy for drum up instant political support for an inveterate opportunist and wannabe dictator.

Unfortunately, the American people have been hornswoggled by Bush and his GOP who pledged in 2001 to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States". Bush lied about Iraq, claiming a link to 911, and lied again that Saddam had WMDs threatening the US. Nor did his underhanded dealings stop there-- Bush continued with other lies, all to escape responsibility for his failures to serve the American people.

Bush, the lawless pretender in office, is the individual who, in November, 2005, facing an assembly of party members critical of his NSA spying program, bristled like a teenager caught drinking after curfew-- "Stop throwing the Constitution in my face! It just a GD)((#@*! piece of paper!"

Bush, alone, is no defender of democracy. Instead, this rhinestone president brought more Big Brother surveillance into the United States than any other president in history, and has curtailed public access and civil rights wherever he could. With years of corruption and double-dealing to answer for, there never has been a president so inept in carrying out the mandate of the people.

[pudd54]

Nice picture of the pres smiling next to the article about the 9 dead marines, and people wonder why I retired after veiwing members of this administration on TV while serving in the middle east.

[ralphj53]

October 12, 2006

Hello;

I once told a friend that America has ALREADY liberated IRAQ, we captured Saddam Hussein, we even killed two of his sons.

We have presided over an IRAQI constiution that was created for a free people, we also MADE SURE that the IRAQI people vote their leaders into office.

There is NOTHING else to do in IRAQ except hear news that our VERY YOUNG American boys are STILL dying.... for a CAUSE?

What cause? To conquer TERRORISM? The IRAQUIS are having their SECTARIAN VIOLENCE for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Are they satisfied?
Not that I know of. And we want to play mediator? like we were some form of SUPER RACE who can do NO WRONG?

I say, America, it's not CUT AND RUN. It's time to go home... because we have DONE OUR JOB "over there".

We are NOT ALMIGHTY GOD who can decide whether some nation who does not live up to our EXPECTATIONS and therefore.... DECIDE whether their problems must also be OURS.

Just remember this... we went to IRAQ to witness weapons of mass destruction in existence, AND
WE FOUND NONE!!!

I think we are STILL in IRAQ to save face. But we must forget this "face saving", come to our senses and bring our boys home. Oh yes, come NOVEMBER... our ballots will talk loud and clear!!!... because there will be MANY who will vote!!

I thank you,
ralphj53

[neurtalsam]

This would be a time to show the world That America stands for Freedom and governments are "of the people" not above the people!

Impeach now before the Next War!

[tomflint69]

________________________________

Aged 21,20,23,21,25 ..... oh God

They were just kids :(

May Jesus give patience to their parents.
________________________________

[sharncedar]

We decide whether the boy was killed for nothing. I say he died loving America, and the best we can do for him is to be our best. It is true that a nation can have enemies, terrible enemies, that must be met with force. Today, as always, these enemies are anyone who attacks our constitution. They seek to snuff out our light forever.

Bush, Rumfeld, infamous names, sick names. Clinton, a name of disgust, a traitor to the constitution. We will repudiate all attempts at aristocracy, or at imperial presidency. We will accept only public servants who act as servants, in humility and self effacement.

We, those who yet defend and love America, must accept responsibility for the sacrifice of this young man, though God knows we would never had asked it. We must accept the sacrifice, and the responsibility, and resolve to be a greater nation, that these precious our beloved not have been lost without cause.

We firmly resolve, on pain of death, to have no popes or kings over us, from this day forever, to live as free men and women under God's providence in peace in our own land.

On the life of the precious ones, resolved.

[peterbaldwin-2009]

while the media frets over one missing cute, white, female college student in Vermont, someone at CBS had the gumption to give the above-detailed account of combat losses last week, I'm sure to the chargrin of the Donald (Rumsfeld) and the flaming Bush. Those of us who are combat veterans and the families of these fallen soldiers appreciate the atttention given to the unfolding tragedy.

What first seemed like a statistical spike, is now beginning to look like a deliberate insurgent offensive targeting US forces. The detente that existed between al-Sadra (and his Mahdi Militia) and US forces since Najif is now in tatters at the direction of the Bush-Rumsfeld team, who in recent weeks has gone after al-Sadr's lieutenants. Public statements in diplomatic circles that the militias must be confronted and crushed has added fuel to the fire. This is another Rumsfeld fiasco in the making. In October, we already have 46 killed and about 500 wounded (see Iraq Coalition Casualties.com) approaching a new record.

The hopelessness expressed by clestes is depressing. it's time for the people to demand that Bush and Chaney be brought to a war crimes tribunal. Any ad hoc legislative legerdemain by our congress does not insuate the pair from being tried and executed by an international body any more that Hitler's obesient Reichstag could protect his war criminals from international justice in Nuremberg. These guys should fry here on earth and not in hell.

[clestes-2009]

What makes me so sad and so angry is that this boy was killed for NOTHING. He enlisted after 9-11 thinking his country needed him to fight. And what did he die for? Fake WMD, lies about "spreading democracy", more lies about how dangerous Saddam was.

Since I am an atheist, I don't believe in a hell after life, but if I did, I hope George W Bush, Chency, Rumsfeld, Rice and the whole lying, stinking, cowardly bunch of neocons who decided to invade Iraq burn there forever. It is what they deserve for killing hundreds of thousands innocent civilians and equally innocent but gulliable young men and women who were suckered in by their lies.