Another Anbar Province casualty…

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 975-08 November 21, 2008

DoD Identifies Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Gunnery Sgt. Marcelo R. Velasco, 40, of Miami, died Nov. 19 from injuries sustained in a non-hostile incident in Anbar province, Iraq.

He was assigned to I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, I MEF, Camp Pendleton, Calif. The incident is currently under investigation.

For additional background information on this Marine, news media representatives may contact the Marine Forces Reserve public affairs office at (504) 235-6128.