Two U.S. Marine reservists with the Milwaukee-based Fox Company were killed and a third wounded in a roadside bombing in Iraq's Anbar province, the U.S. Department of Defense announced Tuesday.
The deaths Monday of Cpl. Richard J. Nelson, 23, of Kenosha and Lance Cpl. Dean D. Opicka, 29, of Waukesha were the first during Fox Company's second tour in Iraq, following five fatalities during an earlier deployment in 2004-'05.
The two were assigned to the Marine Forces Reserve's 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, according to a statement on the department's Web site.
A third Fox Company member, Lance Cpl. David Doyle, 21, of Racine was wounded in the bombing but is expected to remain in Iraq and return to duty, said the company's public affairs officer, Staff Sgt. Cliff Turley.
...The last time [Richard Nelson] spoke to his mother was Saturday.
"He said, 'You know what, Ma? I know God had a plan for me to be over here, and it's going to be over soon and I'll be home,' " [Susan Nelson] recalled.
"And he was right."
...[Dean Opicka] joined the Marine Reserves in July 2005, not necessarily following his younger brother into the military but doing something he felt was worthy, she said.
"None of them really want to go (to Iraq)," [Opicka's fiancée, Katy] Bonkoski said.
"But he was more than willing to go and serve our country."
May God be with the loved ones of Cpl. Richard J. Nelson and Lance Cpl. Dean D. Opicka in their time of mourning.
May God be with Lance Cpl. David Doyle as he recovers from his injuries.
May God be with all our military men and women as they valiantly serve our country.
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