DOD News Release(s)

U.S. Department of Defense Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) News Release www.defenselink.mil/releases/2005/nr20051116-5103.html On the Web: http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/2005/nr20051116-5103.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------- No. 1189-05 IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 16, 2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- DoD Identifies Marine Casualties The Department of Defense announced today the death of three Marines who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Cpl. John M. Longoria, 21, of Nixon, Texas, died Nov. 14 of wounds sustained from small arms fire while conducting combat operations against enemy forces during Operation Steel Curtain in New Ubaydi, Iraq. Maj. Ramon J. Mendoza Jr., 37, of Columbus, Ohio, and Lance Cpl. Christopher M. McCrackin, 20, of Liverpool, Texas, both died Nov. 14 from an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations against enemy forces during Operation Steel Curtain in New Ubaydi, Iraq. All three Marines were assigned to Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, their unit was attached to 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward). -------------------------------------------------------------------------- U.S. Department of Defense Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) News Release On the Web: http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/2005/nr20051116-5107.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------- No. 1192-05 IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 16, 2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- DoD Identifies Marine Casualty The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Lance Cpl. Nickolas D. Schiavoni, 26, of Haverhill, Mass., died Nov. 15 from a suicide, vehicle-borne, improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations against enemy forces near Al Karmah, Iraq. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------