DoD Identifies Missing Marine and Sailor

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Lance Cpl. Eric A. Palmisano, 27, of Florence, Wis., died April 2, after the truck he was riding in rolled over in a flash flood near Al Asad, Iraq. The incident also resulted in the death of six other Marines and a Navy petty officer. Palmisano was listed as Duty Status - Whereabouts Unknown until his body was recovered April 11. He was assigned to 1st Transportation Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif. Petty Officer 3rd Class Marcques J. Nettles, 22, of Beaverton, Ore. is still listed as Duty Status - Whereabouts Unknown as a result of the incident and search efforts continue. I have been waiting to update everyone and had to wait until the information had been released. I posted the DoD releases here and here. My heart goes out to LCpl Eric Palmisano's family. I had kept my candle burning in the hopes that Eric would be found alive. I am truly sorry for your loss of your fallen hero. My heartfelt thoughts and prayers are going out to your family. My words cannot adequately express my sincerest sympathy to you. He is now standing guard at Heaven's Gate. "People do not die for us immediately, but remain bathed in a sort of aura of life which bears no relation to true immortality but through which they continue to occupy our thoughts in the same way as when they were alive. It is as though they were traveling abroad." ~Marcel Proust Dyzgoneby I am keeping my candle burning until Petty Officer 3rd Class Marcques Nettles in the hope he is returned safely home.