In Memoriam

(reprinted from Pilotonline.com, February 9, 2006)

Marine with Virginia Beach ties is killed in Iraq
By LOUIS HANSEN, The Virginian-Pilot
© February 9, 2006
Last updated: 9:00 AM
 

A 21-year-old Marine who lived briefly in Virginia Beach was killed during combat in Iraq, the Defense Department announced Wednesday.

Cpl. Orville Gerena was killed Feb. 6 during combat in Hit, Iraq, a small city on the Euphrates River west of Baghdad.

Gerena and Lance Cpl. David S. Parr of Benson, N.C., died from the blast of an improvised explosive device.

Gerena was born in Puerto Rico, but lived briefly in Virginia. He joined the Marine Corps in 2002 while in Virginia Beach.

The infantryman served at least two combat tours in Iraq, said Marine Corps spokesman Staff Sgt. Angela Mink. Gerena was awarded a Combat Action Ribbon , the Iraq Campaign Medal , and the Global War on Terrorism expeditionary and service medals.

The Marines were based at Camp Lejeune and assigned to Battalion Landing Team, 1 st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force.

More than 2,250 service members have been killed in combat since the invasion of Iraq in March 2003, according to the Associated Press.