NEWCASTLE, Wyo. - A Newcastle native was among the 30 U.S. Marines who died in a helicopter crash in Iraq. A Navy medic also died in the crash.

The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed Friday that Staff Sgt. Brian Bland, 26, of Weston, died in Wednesday's crash. Bland was assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

Funeral services will be held in Newcastle when his body is returned home; a spokesman for the Marine Corps Base Hawaii said a memorial service on the base had not yet been scheduled.

Bland joined the Marines shortly after graduating from Newcastle High School in 1995, and re-enlisted twice. Friends said he enjoyed motorcycles and had planned to stay in the service until he retired.

"He was just always friendly, you know. I don't know anybody who ever had a problem with him," said Kevin Bonnar, of Newcastle. "He was just a good Marine. He never complained about anything, and he kind of looked at it as a job. They took care of him, and he did his best for them."

Bland is the 11th serviceman with ties to Wyoming to be killed in action since 2001.

The CH-53E Super Stallion that Bland was riding in crashed near Ar Rutbah in western Iraq while transporting troops for security operations in preparation of Sunday's elections. Investigators have not determined the cause of the crash.