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Marines honor a fallen hero

by Cpl. Ray Lewis

Marines of I Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment paid their last respects to a fallen hero during a memorial for Lance Cpl. James E. Brown at the Camp Habbaniyah Chapel in Habbaniyah, Iraq, Nov. 16. Brown, a 20-year-old rifleman from Gibson, Ind., was killed while conducting combat operations in the Al Anbar Province. All the Marines serve under Regiment Combat Team 5 and will be conducting operations for the next several months. (photo by Cpl. Ray Lewis)

Lance Cpl. James E. Brown, 20, of Gibson, Ind., was killed in action Nov. 2 while conducting combat operations in the Habbaniyah area.

Marines from 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment paused their combat operations to honor a fallen hero at the chapel during a memorial service here Nov. 16.

"Lance Cpl. James Brown courageously fought and courageously died," said Lt. Col. Todd S. Desgrosseilliers, the 43-year-old battalion commander, from Auburn, Maine. "He heard a call to duty and volunteered to serve our nation without fear or without hesitation."

Brown served as a rifleman for the battalion's I Company under Regimental Combat Team 5.

During the ceremony, Marines from I Company had an opportunity to honor Brown with their personal reflections.

"I remember the first time I saw Lance Cpl. Brown, standing at parade rest on the third deck catwalk with the rest of the new Marines," said Cpl. Chad A. Nickerson, a squad leader with I Company. "I walked up and down the line staring at each one, getting my first glimpse of the Marines that were about to go to battle with me soon."

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