DoD Identifies Marine Casualties
April 10, 2004

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

1st Lt. Joshua M. Palmer, 25, of Banning, Calif.

Lance Cpl. Michael B. Wafford, 20, of Spring, Texas.

Both died April 8 due to injuries received from hostile fire in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. They were assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Cpl. Nicholas J. Dieruf, 21, of Versailles, Ky., died April 8 due to injuries received from enemy action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. He was assigned to 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Lance Cpl. Christopher B Wasser, 21, of Ottawa, Kan., died April 8 due to injuries received from enemy action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, at Twentynine Palms, Calif.

For further information related to Palmer, Wafford, and Dieruf, contact the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Public Affairs Office at (760) 725-5044.

For further information related to Wasser, contact Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms Public Affairs Office at (760) 830-5472.