6 June 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.