Marine death ends long casualty-free streak

[unhappycamper]

Lance corporal killed
First Marine to die in Iraq combat since October


Marine death ends long casualty-free streak
By Andrew Tilghman - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Jan 23, 2008 18:22:17 EST

A Marine was killed in Iraq last weekend, the first fatality by enemy fire in more than 100 days and one likely to have a jarring effect on those serving during the recent period of relative calm in Anbar province.

Lance Cpl. James M. Gluff, 20, of Tunnel Hill, Ga., died Jan. 19 while conducting combat operations in Anbar province, the Defense Department announced Wednesday. He was with Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based 1st Battalion, 8th Marines.

For several years, Marines were killed in Anbar province at a rate of several each week. Gluff’s death, after such a long period of calm, is likely to have a far-reaching impact on the way Marines in Iraq are thinking and operating, a former staff noncommissioned officer said.

“It’s going to sharpen the minds of the NCOs and the young officers over there — that this is still real — we cannot let our guard down at all,” said retired Sgt. Maj. Joe Houle, who was the sergeant major of Marine Forces Atlantic in 2000.

“The command over there may have had a stand-down and said, ‘What aren’t we doing that we’re supposed to be doing? Are we dotting all our I’s and crossing all our T’s?”


Rest of article at: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/01/marine_casualty_080123/



uhc comment: 3,931 deaths in this adventure --> http://icasualties.org/oif/Details.aspx