Cpl. Dominique Nicolas, U.S.M.C (KIA)

Marine from Maricopa dies on mission in Iraq

Cpl. Dominique J. Nicolas, 25, was killed May 26 while on a mission in the Anbar province in Iraq.

Nicolas was a combat engineer with the I Marine Expeditionary Force, which is the Marine Corps' primary warfighting organization.

Nicolas, who was stationed at Camp Pendleton, joined the Marines in August 2001.

He has been awarded the Combat Action Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

Maricopa School Superintendent Alma Farrell said Nicolas was a former student but did not graduate from Maricopa High School. His father died last year, and his mother now lives out of state.

President Bush awarded the I Expeditionary Force with a Presidential Unit Citation for heroism in action against an armed enemy for its involvement in Operation Iraqi Freedom from March 21 to April 2003. In that period, MEF conducted the longest sequence of overland attacks in the history of the Marine Corps.

Camp Pendleton officials declined Tuesday to provide additional information on Nicolas.