The Department of Defense announced today the death of two Marines who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Cpl. Jason L. Dunham, 22, of Allegany, N.Y.
Cpl. Christopher A. Gibson, 23, of Simi Valley, Calif.
Gibson died April 18 and Dunham died April 22 due to injuries received from enemy action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. They were assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, at Twentynine Palms, Calif.
Chris was my uncle's brother's grandson. I never met him, and never even knew of his existence until I received word today of his death. I can't say that I feel worse about his death than about the deaths of all the other young people fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, except inasmuch as I feel sympathy for my relatives who knew him well.