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IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 814-10
September 09, 2010

DOD Identifies Marine Casualty

               The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

               Sgt. Jesse M. Balthaser, 23, of Columbus, Ohio, died Sept. 4 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to the 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif.

               For additional background information on this Marine, news media representatives may contact the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center public affairs office at 760-830-6213.