Tuesday, December 20 2005 @ 08:51 PM EST
Contributed by: River97
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 www.ledger-enquirer.com -- CULLMAN, Ala. - Military officials confirmed Tuesday that a Marine from this northern Alabama town was killed by a "non-hostile" gunshot in Iraq, a shot his family said was fired to his head while sleeping inside his quarters in Fallujah.
The Defense Department, in a brief statement, said the death Friday of Cpl. Adam R. Fales, 21, remains under investigation.
The circumstances of the Marine's death have left the Fales family frustrated as they await the arrival of his body for a burial around Christmas.
"The Marines came out to my house Saturday morning and told me my son was shot in the back of his head in his secure barracks," his mother, Glenda Fales, told The Associated Press in a phone interview Tuesday.
"They said it was under investigation and they won't tell us anything else. We don't know if it was accidental or if somebody shot him on purpose," she said.
Staff Sgt. Amy Contreras, a spokeswoman at the Marine Corps base at Cherry Point, N.C., said members of Fales' unit would escort the body to Alabama on Wednesday.
Fales' mother said the funeral will be Friday at the Cullman-Heritage Funeral Home, with burial afterward at the cemetery of the Straight Mountain Baptist Church in Oneonta. She had been concerned earlier that the release of the body would be delayed, leaving her with the possibility of a Christmas funeral, and her birthday is Dec. 26.
Fales was assigned to Combat Service Support Detachment-21, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air Station based at Cherry Point, N.C.
Contreras declined to comment on Fales' death, saying, "We don't have the full story yet."
Fales was nearing the end of his four-year tour of duty in the Marine Corps. He was set to come home in February. He had received the Good Conduct Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal among other recognition.
"He dreamed of going into the military ever since he was a little boy," his mother told The Cullman Times. "He was always drawing pictures of battles and war. He also wanted to be a history teacher."
His family described him as laid back and a bit of a homebody when he returned home on leave. He enjoyed family dinners and playing football with his brothers, Jacob and James. His father called him the mediator of the family.
Jacob Fales is also a Marine corporal in his second tour of duty and is stationed in Hawaii. There is the possibility that Jacob Fales may serve another tour of duty in Iraq. He will begin his second four-year stint with the Marines early next year.
"The Marines is supposed to be a big brotherhood. I support President Bush all the way, but I'm starting to lose some faith in the Marines," said Glenda Fales, of her experience over the past few days. "The Marines can't take care of their own." |
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God bless you all and Keep his memory alive each and every day!