DOD IDENTIFIES MARINE CASUALTIES

March 31, 2003

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The Department of Defense announced today the identification of the following Marines who have been killed in action during Operation Iraqi Freedom. They are:

Staff Sgt. James W. Cawley, 41, of Roy, Utah, was killed on March 29 during a firefight with enemy forces. He was assigned to F Company, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Sgt. Michael V. Lalush, 23, of Troutville, Va., was killed on March 30 in a UH-1N Huey helicopter crash in Southern Iraq. He was assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA)-169, Marine Air Craft Group-39, Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, Calif. The Department of Defense also announced today it has changed the status of the following Marine casualties from missing in action to killed in action. They are: Staff Sgt. Donald C. May, Jr., 31, of Richmond, Va. Lance Cpl. Patrick T. O'Day, 20, of Sonoma, Calif. Pfc. Francisco A. Martinez Flores, 21, of Los Angeles, Calif. These Marines were assigned to the 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif. They were killed while their unit was conducting convoy operations in the vicinity of the Euphrates River on March 25. Their remains were recovered on March 28.