Marine Lance Cpl. Brandon Dewey

Died January 20, 2006 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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20, of Tracy, Calif.; assigned to 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; attached to 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward); killed Jan. 20 by a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device while he was conducting combat operations in Haqlaniyah, Iraq. Also killed was Cpl. Carlos Arrelano-Pandura.

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Cpl. killed by car bomb in Iraq

The Associated Press

TRACY, Calif. — A 20-year-old Marine from Tracy died when a car filled with explosives blew up in Iraq’s Anbar province.

Brandon Dewey had survived a previous suicide bomber in 2004, only to die in a similar attack Jan. 20, his family said.

Before leaving for his second tour, Dewey told his parents not to grieve too much if he were to die in Iraq because he always wanted to be a Marine and believed in what he was doing.

“He told his sister that’s what he was made for,” said Dewey’s mother, Julia Conover.

Flowers and food from well-wishers filled the family’s home, where a table was heaping with pictures of Dewey — at prom, with family, hanging out with friends.

Dewey was the fifth service member from this town of about 77,000 to die in the Iraq war.

“Tracy has paid the price,” said Dewey’s stepfather, Scott Conover, shaking his head.

The family has not made funeral plans yet, but intends to hold a public memorial service.