Marine from northern Minnesota killed in Iraq

MOOSE LAKE, Minn.A second Marine from northern Minnesota has been killed while deployed in the Middle East, according to broadcast reports Wednesday.

Moises Langhorst, 19, died Monday while on duty on Iraq. The circumstances were unclear.

George Langhorst, Moises' father, declined to be interviewed by The Associated Press on Wednesday.

"We're not talking to the media at this time," he said. "We'd like three or four more days to grieve, then maybe we'll talk."

Moose Lake school superintendent Ted Caroline told KSTP-TV that Langhorst graduated in 2003 from Moose Lake High School, where he played several sports and participated in theater.

"He was a great kid," Caroline said.

The Defense Department did not confirm Langhorst's death.

Last month, the body of Marine Pfc. Matthew G. Milczark, 18, of Kettle River, was found at a chapel in Kuwait. He death was caused by a non-combat shooting, authorities have said.

Milczark graduated from Moose Lake High School with Langhorst, Caroline said.

"They were good buddies and had planned to go into the military together, and hoped to serve together in the same unit, even," Caroline told the station.

Caroline said Langhorst's death was hard on the staff. "When we notified staff this morning it was very, very difficult," he told KSTP-TV.

Flags around the small town about 40 miles southwest of Duluth were at half-staff Wednesday. Counselors were at the high school.

News of Langhorst's death came the day after the Defense Department announced that Marine Cpl. Tyler R. Fey, 22, of Eden Prairie, had been killed Sunday after attacks in Anbar province Iraq.

"He was a kind and sweet kid. He was proud of his decision to be in the service and serve as a combat engineer," said his cousin, Char Loving.

Fey was assigned to the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force out of Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Including Langhorst and Fey, six Minnesota troops have now been killed in combat in Iraq.

Although it was not clear where Langhorst died, the military announced Wednesday that two Marines had been killed in recent fighting in Fallujah, Iraq, to uproot Sunni Muslim insurgents there.

A total 10 Marines are known to have been wounded since the Marine siege of Fallujah, west of Baghdad, began early Monday, when one Marine was killed. The Marines have not given a full casualty count, nor have they named those killed.