MARINE DIES FROM ENEMY FIRE:

Marine killed, first combat death in Iraq (AP, 3/21/2003)

A U.S. Marine has been killed in Iraq, becoming the first reported combat death of the war, defense officials said Friday.

The slain soldier, of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, was moving in the ground assault in southern Iraq, said Lt. Col. Neal Peckham, a British military spokesman in Kuwait.

Peckham said he had no further details. MSNBC cable network reported that the soldier was felled by Iraqi gunfire during the advance on the Rumeila oil field.

It was bound to happen, but it's still a shock. May God bind up this Marine's wounds; may God bless our servicemen and women. Posted by Paul Jaminet at March 21, 2003 8:02 AM