Friday 21 March 2003

CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar -- Two U.S. Marines have died in the attack on Iraq, the U.S. Central Command said Friday.

Both troops were with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.

The first Marine died early Friday while his platoon battled Iraqi infantry to secure an oil pumping station in southern Iraq. He was transported by helicopter to a surgical company in Kuwait.

The second Marine died Friday at about 4 p.m. local time while fighting Iraqi forces near the strategic port of Umm Qasr, located along the Kuwait border about 290 miles southeast of Baghdad.

The oil port now is under the full control of coalition forces, military officials said.

Earlier, eight British and four U.S. Marines died when their CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter crashed about nine miles south of the Iraqi border town of Umm Qasr.

No hostile fire was reported in the area, military officials said.

The pilot was Capt. Ryan Beaupre, 30, of St. Anne, Ill., his sister, Alyse, said. Her family was notified early Friday morning, she said.

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