Marine Cpl. Rusty L. Washam

Died February 14, 2006 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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21, of Huntsville, Tenn.; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; killed Feb. 14 when a suicide car bomber attacked his vehicle near Qa'im, Iraq. Also killed was Lance Cpl. Matthew R. Barnes.

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Marine from Tenn. killed in Iraq

HUNTSVILLE, Tenn. — A Marine from Tennessee was one of two killed in Iraq when an improvised explosive device blew up next to their Humvee, family members said.

Cpl. Rusty L. Washam, 21, of Huntsville, and Lance Cpl. Matthew R. Barnes, 20, of West Monroe, La., were killed Tuesday near Qa’im, Iraq. Each was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Washam turned 21 Saturday, when he spoke to his mother on the phone, she told The Knoxville News Sentinel Wednesday.

“It was a real clear line that day,” Beverly Washam said. “I have talked to him before and it was real fuzzy. But that day, his voice was real clear.” She said his last words were, “I love you, mom.” Marine officials notified the family Tuesday evening, saying that Washam and another Marine in the vehicle were killed in the explosion this week, despite wearing all their protective gear.

“I never dreamed this could happen,” his mother said. “I thought, ‘Let him be hurt,’ and that’s it. I just want him back. He’s my baby.” Washam and his fellow Marine were members of the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine unit based in Camp Lejeune, N.C. They had been in Iraq since August.

Washam graduated from Scott County High School in 2003 and joined the Marines shortly after graduation.

His father was a retired Army veteran and two of his brothers serve in the Army and Air Force.

Washam is survived by two sons, Ryan 4, and Andrew, 2.

Barnes was due to come home next month after being deployed since August, his brother Rick Barnes said.

He Barnes was a student at the University of Louisiana at Monroe until he joined the Marines in May 2004, said his aunt, Rita Dispenza.

As of Wednesday, at least 2,270 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. At least 1,777 died as a result of hostile action, according to the military’s numbers.

—Associated Press

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Two N.C.-based Marines killed in suicide attack

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Two North Carolina-based Marines died this week when their vehicle was attacked by a suicide car bomber, the Defense Department said Thursday.

Lance Cpl. Matthew R. Barnes, 20, of West Monroe, La., and Cpl. Rusty L. Washam, 21, of Huntsville, Tenn., were killed Tuesday near Qa’im, Iraq. Each was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune.

Barnes, who was due to come home next month after being deployed since August, was killed when a bomber rammed his Humvee, said Rick Barnes, his brother.

Matthew Barnes was a student at the University of Louisiana at Monroe until he joined the Marines in May 2004, said his aunt, Rita Dispenza.

Washam had turned 21 Saturday, when he spoke to his mother on the phone, she told The Knoxville News Sentinel on Wednesday.

“It was a real clear line that day,” Beverly Washam said. “I have talked to him before and it was real fuzzy. But that day, his voice was real clear.” She said his last words were, “I love you, mom.” Washam graduated from Scott County High School in 2003 and joined the Marines shortly after graduation. His father was a retired Army veteran and two of his brothers serve in the Army and Air Force.

Washam is survived by two sons, Ryan 4, and Andrew, 2.

As of Wednesday, at least 2,270 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. At least 1,777 died as a result of hostile action, according to the military’s numbers.

—Associated Press