Washington Marine dies in Iraq

By Ray Rivera
Seattle Times staff reporter

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A Central Washington Marine was killed Tuesday by sniper fire in the troubled Iraqi province of Al Anbar, west of Baghdad, his family said yesterday.

Lance Cpl. Caleb J. Powers, 21, of Mansfield, Douglas County, was shot while standing guard outside his unit's compound near Fallujah, said his grandfather, John Powers. He had just come off patrol, the elder Powers said.

He was the third Marine to die in the last three days in the sprawling province, which extends from Fallujah to the Syrian border.

Powers was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division out of Camp Pendleton, Calif., according to the Department of Defense.

"He was a damn good kid," John Powers said. "All he wanted to do was be in the Marine Corps, from the time he was a kid."

Powers was born in Pacific City, Ore., his grandfather said. He moved to Mansfield, east of Chelan, as a teenager to live with his aunt and uncle after his parents divorced.

Powers enjoyed the small farming community, his grandfather said. He particularly enjoyed tinkering with vehicles and working on his aunt and uncle's wheat farm.

Powers enlisted in the Marines on June 11, 2001, after graduating from Mansfield High School. His awards included the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Marine Corps said in a news release, according to The Associated Press.

An older sister is also in the Marines. Powers also had an older brother.

A military chaplain was visiting the family yesterday to help make funeral arrangements, John Powers said. A service was expected to be held in Mansfield, and Powers' body is to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va.
 
Ray Rivera: 206-464-2926 or rayrivera@seattletimes.com