 Boston Herald — A Marine Corps sergeant, who would have celebrated his 29th birthday today, died Sunday during his third tour of duty in Iraq.
Sgt. Marquis Porter was killed in a non-combat-related incident in the Anbar province that is “still under investigation,” the Pentagon reported. No cause of death or details of the incident were released.
“He was a very friendly, loving individual, a loving person and a nice guy who did anything for anyone. His dream was to be a Marine,” said William Jackson, 37, of Brockton, one of Porter’s four older siblings, who said his brother had volunteered to go back to Iraq.
Porter is survived by a wife and three daughters, ages 5, 4 and 2, in California, where services will be held next week.
Porter was raised in the Fidelis Way projects of Brighton. He graduated from the private college prepatory Beaver Country Day School in Chestnut Hill, where he played lacrosse and was on the wrestling team.
“We were real close,” Jackson said of his brother. “I raised him. We played basketball and went to the arcades, but he was really into his books, an educated individual with a question for everything, looking for the right answers. He graduated one day and enlisted the next. It was a dream that the kid had, something he wanted to do and would’ve done it for 20 more years if he could’ve,” he added.
Porter joined the Marine Corps in 1998 and worked as a radio operator assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force in Camp Lejeune, N.C.
He had completed two prior tours in Iraq and also a tour in Japan, his brother said.
==Another news story==
BOSTON — A Marine sergeant from Boston has died in Iraq in a non-combat related incident.
The Pentagon says 28-year-old Marquis Porter of the city’s Brighton neighborhood died Sunday in Anbar province.
The Marines did not release a cause of death and said the incident is under investigation.
Porter was a radio operator assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force in Camp Lejeune, N.C.
He joined the Marine Corps in June 1998 and previously served in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from July 2004 to February 2005. Porter's awards include the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal with two bronze stars in lieu of a third award, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with a gold star in lieu of a second award, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with three bronze stars in lieu of a fourth award, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. |
I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for our Country. And to your family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.
Semper Fi Devil Dog!