Marine Cpl. Adam R. Fales

Died December 16, 2005 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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21, of Cullman , Ala.; assigned to Combat Service Support Detachment-21, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C.; killed Dec. 16 by a non-hostile gunshot wound in Fallujah, Iraq.

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Officials: Marine’s death in Iraq was accidental

Associated Press

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Military officials said Thursday that a Cullman County marine who was killed in his barracks in Iraq last week was accidentally shot to death.

Cpl. Adam Fales was killed in his barracks in Fallujah on Dec. 16. The Department of Defense initially said Fales was killed by a “non-hostile” gunshot, a shot his family said was fired to his head while he slept.

Staff Sgt. Amy Contreras, spokeswoman the Marine Corps base in Cherry Point, N.C., said Thursday “initial indications are that it was an accidental death.”

She declined to elaborate, citing the ongoing investigation into Fales’ death.

Fales was assigned to Combat Service Support Detachment-21, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air Station based at Cherry Point.

A funeral service was scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday at the Cullman Heritage Funeral Home, followed by graveside services in Oneonta.

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Alabama Marine shot to death sleeping in Iraq barracks

Associated Press

CULLMAN, Ala. — Military officials confirmed Tuesday that a Marine from this northern Alabama town was killed by a “non-hostile” gunshot in Iraq, a shot his family said was fired to his head while while sleeping inside his quarters in Fallujah.

The Defense Department, in a brief statement, said the death Friday of Cpl. Adam R. Fales, 21, of Cullman, remains under investigation.

The circumstances of the Marine’s death have left the Fales family frustrated as they await the arrival of his body for a burial around Christmas.

“The Marines came out to my house Saturday morning and told me my son was shot in the back of his head in his secure barracks,” his mother, Glenda Fales, told The Associated Press in a phone interview Tuesday.

“They said it was under investigation and they won’t tell us anything else. We don’t know if it was accidental or if somebody shot him on purpose,” she said.

Glenda Fales said her son’s body has been in Delaware since Sunday and the Marines have not confirmed when they will release it for burial. She is faced with the possibility of a Christmas funeral, and her birthday is Dec. 26.

“My son was a Marine and he’s laying in a hangar by himself,” she said. “They told me he was dressed and ready. ... The Marines are just not doing what they need to be doing to get him home.”

Adam Fales was assigned to Combat Service Support Detachment-21, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air Station based at Cherry Point, N.C. Officials at the base did not immediately return messages on Tuesday.

Adam Fales was nearing the end of his four-year tour of duty in the Marine Corps. He was set to come home in February.

“He dreamed of going into the military ever since he was a little boy,” his mother told The Cullman Times. “He was always drawing pictures of battles and war. He also wanted to be a history teacher.”

His family described him as laid back and a bit of a homebody when he returned home on leave. He enjoyed family dinners and playing football with his brothers, Jacob and James. His father called him the mediator of the family.

Jacob Fales is also a Marine corporal in his second tour of duty and is stationed in Hawaii. There is the possibility that Jacob Fales may serve another tour of duty in Iraq. He will begin his second four-year stint with the Marines early next year.

“The Marines is supposed to be a big brotherhood. I support President Bush all the way, but I’m starting to lose some faith in the Marines,” said Glenda Fales, of her experience over the past few days. “The Marines can’t take care of their own.”