Pentagon identifies fallen Lejeune Marines - Military News | News From Afghanistan, Iraq And Around The World - Military Times

Pentagon identifies fallen Lejeune Marines

Two Marines were killed during an attempted prisoner escape this weekend in southern Afghanistan.

NATO officials said Monday that the Marines died while trying to subdue a prisoner Saturday who had escaped from a room where he was observing prayers. The prisoner acquired a rifle, and then shot at Afghan and coalition forces.

The Defense Department announced late Monday that two North Carolina-based Marines were killed Saturday in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, although Marine officials were unable to confirm they were involved in the attempted escape. They are:

• Lance Cpl. Kevin M. Cornelius, 20, of Ashtabula, Ohio.

• Pfc. Vincent E. Gammone III, 19, of Christiana, Tenn. Both men were assigned to Camp Lejeune’s 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, according to a DoD news release.

The death of a third Marine also was reported Monday. Cpl. Max W. Donahue, 23, of Highlands Ranch, Colo., died Saturday from combat wounds sustained Aug. 4. He was a member of I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, out of Camp Pendleton, Calif.

No other information was immediately available.