From: dlnews_sender@DTIC.MIL



NEWS RELEASE from the United States Department of Defense



No. 186-03

(703)697-5131(media)

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 1, 2003

(703)428-0711(public/industry)



DOD IDENTIFIES MARINES KILLED IN ACTION



The Department of Defense announced today the identification of

the following Marines who have been killed in action during

Operation Iraqi Freedom. They are:



Capt. Aaron J. Contreras, 31, of Sherwood, Ore., was killed on

March 30 in a UH-1N Huey helicopter crash in Southern Iraq. He

was assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron

(HMLA)-169, Marine Aircraft Group-39, Marine Corps Air Station

Camp Pendleton, Calif.



Cpl. Robert M. Rodriguez, 21, of Queens, N.Y., was killed in

action on March 27 when the tank he was riding in fell into the

Euphrates River during combat operations northwest of An

Nasiriyah. His remains were recovered on March 30. He was

assigned to the 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Marine

Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif.



The Department of Defense also announced today it has changed

the status of Lance Cpl. Patrick R. Nixon, 21, of Nashville,

Tenn., from Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown to killed in action.

He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd

Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Camp Lejeune, N.C. His unit was

engaged in operations on March 23 on the outskirts of An

Nasiriyah in Iraq. His remains were recovered on March 30.



[Web version: http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Apr2003/b04012003_bt186-03.html]