DOD Identifies Marine Casualties
June 07, 2010

The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of three Marines who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

The following Marines died June 6 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan:

Sgt. Brandon C. Bury, 26, of Kingwood, Texas.

Lance Cpl. Derek Hernandez, 20, of Edinburg, Texas.

Cpl. Donald M. Marler, 22, of St. Louis, Mo.

Bury, Hernandez and Marler were assigned to 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

This incident is under investigation.

For additional background information on these Marines, news media representatives may contact the 1st Marine Division public affairs office at 760-725-6573 or 760-468-9895.