2 more isle Marines die in Iraq

The official death toll for a unit of Kaneohe-based Marines deployed in Iraq since September climbs to 15

Two of four Kaneohe-based Marines killed in Iraq last week were identified yesterday, bringing the death toll for their unit to 15 since it was deployed in September.

The two are Lance Cpl. Jeromy D. West, 20, of Aguanga, Calif., and Lance Cpl. James R. Davenport, 20, of Hendricks, Ind.

Davenport and West were mortarmen assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe.

West died Saturday and Davenport died Wednesday of wounds received while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, according to a Marine Corps Base Hawaii news release issued yesterday.

The Press-Enterprise reported that West, upon graduating from Hamilton High School in Anza at age 17, told his mother and stepfather he wanted to join the Marine Corps.

They signed papers to allow him to join before his 18th birthday.

He joined the Marines in June 2004, reported to Hawaii in November 2004 and was deployed to Afghanistan with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, from May 2005 to January 2006.

He deployed to Iraq in September.

"He wanted to be the one to take care of us," his mother, Lisa, told the Press-Enterprise. "He tried to be the man of the house."

When two Marines and a Navy chaplain arrived on their doorstep, West's younger sister, Brandi, 18, was the only one home to receive the news of his death, the Press-Enterprise reported.

"He was just my hero," she told the Press-Enterprise. "I couldn't have asked for a better brother."

Lisa West would often tell her son how much she missed his face, so he e-mailed photos of himself to her cell phone, the Press-Enterprise reported.

Two Marines with the 2nd Battalion killed Wednesday were Lance Cpl. Joshua C. Alonzo, 21, of Dumas, Texas, and Pfc. Heath Douglas Warner, 19, of Canton, Ohio.

Davenport and Warner were awarded the Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

West and Alonzo were awarded the Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

Davenport joined the Marine Corps in July 2005 and reported to Hawaii in February.

The nearly 1,000 Marines from 2nd Battalion replaced their sister unit, the 3rd Battalion.

The 3rd Battalion, which also has about 1,000 Marines, lost 11 members during its seven-month Iraqi deployment.