Military

            The Department of Defense announced today the death of five Marines who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

 

            Lance Cpl. Dustin V. Birch, 22, of Saint Anthony, Idaho

 

            Lance Cpl. Daniel Chavez, 20, of Seattle, Wash.

 

            Lance Cpl. Thomas O. Keeling, 23, of Strongsville, Ohio

 

            Lance Cpl. Devon P. Seymour, 21, of St. Louisville, Ohio

 

            Cpl. Brad D. Squires, 26, of Middleburg Heights, Ohio

 

            All five Marines died June 9 as a result of an explosion while conducting combat operations with 2^nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), in Haqlaniyah, Iraq.

 

            Keeling, Seymour, and Squires were assigned to Marine Forces Reserve’s 3^rd Battalion, 25^th Marine Regiment, 4^th Marine Division, Akron, Ohio.

 

            Birch was assigned to Marine Forces Reserve’s 4^th Tank Battalion, 4^th Marine Division, Boise, Idaho. Chavez was assigned to 1^st Tank Battalion, 1^st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

 

            Media with questions about Keeling, Seymour, Squires, and Birch can call the Marine Forces Reserve Public Affairs Office at (504) 678-4178. Media with questions about Chavez can call the Camp Pendleton Public Affairs Office at (760) 725-5044.