More than 400 Coalition Soldiers and Marines paid their respect to a fallen Marine at Basra Air Base, Iraq, May 23. Marine 1st Lt. Matthew R. Vandegrift, was honored in a memorial plaque dedication service. Lieutenant Vandegrift was killed while conducting combat operations in Basra, Iraq. He was assigned to the Military Transition Team in support of the 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division.

The service was presided over by Marine Maj. Gen. George J. Flynn, the deputy commanding general of Multi-National Corps – Iraq, and Reverend Padre Mark Christian, the chaplain to the forces at Multi-National Division — South East.

Lieutenant Vandegrift was killed while conducting combat operations in Basra, Iraq. He was assigned to the Military Transition Team in support of the 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division.

A plaque commemorating the selfless service of Lieutenant Vandegrift was placed on the memorial wall in front of Multi-National Division Southeast Headquarters honoring British and Coalition forces killed in Southern Iraq.

The gravity of the ceremony was all the more reflected in the eyes of the Marines as Memorial weekend approaches.

“It is heartening to know that, back in the States, there will be that moment in time where people get together and reflect on the sacrifices made by those who have gone before us,” said Marine Maj. Andrew S. Burchfield, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force Liaison Officer to 1st Iraqi Army Division Military Transition Team.

Lieutenant Vandegrift was laid to rest with full military honors at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, April 28.

MNF-I

Residents of the Zambraniyah move through a Coalition checkpoint as they return to their homes, after fleeing al-Qaeda in Iraq clashes with Coalition Forces. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Michael Paredes)

Task Force Marne

About 1,000 residents returned to Zambraniyah throughout the last week of January after learning the area had been secured by Coalition and Iraqi forces.

When heavy fighting in the Zambraniyah area broke out in early January, Coalition Forces advised families to evacuate the area to stay out of danger.

As residents fled, blending in was difficult for al-Qaeda in Iraq members, enabling Soldiers to identify and target them. Over the course of combat operations, more than 40 extremists were killed.

(more…)