Local Marine Reservist Killed In Iraq

[1369]

Saw today on KSAT.com that a local Marine reservist was killed in a car bombing over the weekend.

The story didn't say which unit he was from, but if he's from San Antonio, he's with elements of the 4th Reconnaissance Battalion which is my old unit.

Prayers for his family and buena suerte to his teammates in finding and exacting a little justice on those who planned this cowardly act.

[travis2]

Marine from S.A. is killed in Iraq (http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA050905.1A.soldier.256a07812.html)

Web Posted: 05/09/2005 12:00 AM CDT

Elizabeth Allen
Express-News Staff Writer

A San Antonio Marine reservist was killed by a suicide bomb in western Iraq, his family learned Saturday night.

Lance Cpl. Lance Tanner Graham, 26, was a gunner riding in the back of a Humvee when two suicide bombers closed in on the convoy, "and that was that," said Suzanne Hildebrand, a close friend of Graham's family.

The Associated Press reported seven U.S. service members in Iraq were killed in violence over the weekend. It was unclear if Graham's death was part of that tally.

Three of the U.S. victims were soldiers killed Sunday in bombings in central Iraq, the U.S. command said. On Saturday, three U.S. Marines and a sailor were killed fighting with insurgents in western Iraq, some of whom fought from inside a hospital, the military said.

More than 300 people, including American forces, have been killed in a torrent of insurgent attacks since Iraq's Cabinet was sworn in April 28.

Graham was assigned to the Weapons Company of 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines.

Family members were not available for comment Sunday.

Hildebrand said she had spoken with Graham's father, Joe Graham, who had served in Vietnam. Graham was proud of his son, a Madison High School graduate, she said, but his loss was almost unbearable.

"We talked about the fact that you tell your children what you did, and when they follow in your footsteps it sometimes makes you proud, and sometimes it scares you," she said. "He was the light of our life. He was my son's best friend."

Graham spent a lot of time with Hildebrand's family, and her son, Ashley, considered him a brother.

Ashley Hildebrand is engaged, He was putting off the wedding awaiting Graham's return so he could be the best man.

"He was not getting married until his brother came home," his mother said.

Graham's reserve unit was called up in December and shipped out to Iraq the first of March, she said.

"The morning he shipped out, Ashley, me and Lance's dad were out there at 3 o'clock in the morning at the Marine base barracks," she said.

The 6-foot-5 Marine was sent off with a huge party attended by many friends, she said.

"They say that about people when they die; 'Oh, he was wonderful and he never did anything wrong,'" Hildebrand said, "but I don't know anybody who disliked him.

"A crooked little old smile, mischief in those eyes," she said. "He was just a gentle, gentle giant."

Graham was mentioned favorably in a recent online letter by Capt. John Kasparian, who had traveled with Graham's company in late April.

"I spent the next two days in the last vehicle of MAP 7 (Mobile Advanced Platoon) helping to provide security. Well actually, I just rode along like a nice quiet passenger," Kasparian wrote to Reminder Online, the Web site of a Massachusetts newspaper chain. "Lance Corporal Lance Graham with his M249G machine gun really provided the security."

Funeral arrangements are pending at Porter-Loring Mortuary North. Services will be held at Northeast Bible Church.

[gophergeorge]

I read the caption under that headline with much hesitation.... one of my best friends' son is a Marine over there... Simper Fi.

[CrazyOne]

God be with them all...

On a brighter note, my son Omar has officially traded in the army fatigues for the hostile environs of UTSA. He came back with all body parts intact, except for possible disk replacement surgery for an injury sustained doing grunt work in Baghdad.

[Samurai Jane]

I read the caption under that headline with much hesitation.... one of my best friends' son is a Marine over there... Simper Fi.

Us too.. my brother and a dear family friend (like a brother) are both Marines over there now.

[1369]

Hey Jane, how is your brother doing over there? H&S doesn't have much time left over there, do they?

[Samurai Jane]

There's another one from San Antonio...

http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/2005/nr20050509-3003.html

God Bless them!!

[Samurai Jane]

He's doing okay, but I think this last round has him a bit shaken up.. hit a little too close to home.

He talks to his wife alot by IM so I think that makes it a bit easier. From what I understand he won't be coming home until November.

[gay abc]

very sad news - his mother works for texas capital bank which has a branch here in the building where i work - she said the best way to deal with it was to keep working and for everyone to include her and her family in their prayers

:depressed

[1369]

I read the caption under that headline with much hesitation.... one of my best friends' son is a Marine over there... Simper Fi.

Hey wing wiper. Its SEMPER FI. (No harm, no foul)

Jen, if you talk to your brother, tell him that a former 4th Recon Marine said "Be Safe" and come home soon.

[Samurai Jane]

I sure will, thanks!

[gophergeorge]

Hey wing wiper. Its SEMPER FI. (No harm, no foul)

Jen, if you talk to your brother, tell him that a former 4th Recon Marine said "Be Safe" and come home soon.

Sorry.... thought it looked weird.... but my mind is going a 100 miles an hour as I prep for my retirement ceremony.

SEMPER FI!