LCpl Jakub H. Kowalik, U.S.M.C (NCD)

Marine killed in Iraq

BY KAREN SHOFFNER
STAFF WRITER

Flags at Schaumburg's municipal buildings have been flying at half-staff in memory of a Schaumburg resident, a Marine who was killed in an explosion in Iraq last week.

Lance Cpl. Jakub H. Kowalik, 21, and another Marine from California, were killed May 12 when unexploded ammunition they were handling detonated, Department of Defense officials said in a press release.

Capt. Lara Bennett of Camp Pendleton said only that she couldn't speculate about what might have happened because the incident is still under investigation. The investigation could take several weeks.

She could not provide information about the location of the explosion.

Kowalik was assigned to the 1st Maintenance Battalion, 1st Force Service Support Group based at Camp Pendleton, Calif. He served as an assault amphibious vehicle repairer and technician. He joined the Marine Corps in December 2001.

Kowalik's family could not be reached for comment.