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IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 248-03
April 15, 2003

DOD IDENTIFIES MARINE CASUALTIES

The Department of Defense announced today that Marine Lance Cpl. David Edward Owens Jr., 20, of Winchester, Va., died of wounds received in action on April 12 in central Iraq. Owens was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

The Department of Defense also announced today that Cpl. Armando Ariel Gonzalez, 25, of Hileah, Fla., was killed April 14 in a non-hostile accident when a commercial refueler collapsed at Logistics Supply Area Viper in southern Iraq. Gonzalez was assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS)-273, Marine Wing Support Group (MWSG)-27, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, S.C.