Local Soldier Killed In Iraq

Methuen's David Vicente Killed Friday

BOSTON -- A 25-year-old Marine from Methuen has become the latest Bay State resident killed in Iraq, the U.S. Department of Defense announced Monday.

Cpl. David M. Vicente, who joined the Marines three years ago, died Friday in a clash with insurgents near the town of Hit, Iraq, the Defense Department said.

Vicente was assigned to the 2nd Battalion of the 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, based at Twentynine Palms, Calif. He was trained as a machine gun specialist who flew with helicopter crews.

A call to the Vicente home in Methuen was not immediately returned.

Vicente is the first Methuen resident killed in action since the Vietnam War, according to Methuen Veterans' Services Director Edward F. Curran, who said he hasn't spoken to the Vicente family. Methuen lost two residents in Vietnam, he said.

"Our office and the mayor's office and the entire city will be behind them, that's for sure," Curran said.

Three deaths on Saturday would raise to 573 the number of U.S. service members who have died since the beginning of military operations in Iraq on March 20, according to the most recent Department of Defense figures. Of those, 391 died as a result of hostile action, and 183 died of non-hostile causes.

Since the start of military operations, 2,868 U.S. service members have been injured as a result of hostile action, according to the Defense Department.

The Department of Defense said Cpl. David Vicente of Methuen died on Friday in a clash with insurgents in the town of Hit.