Marine Lance Cpl. Dennis J. Veater

Died March 9, 2007 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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20, of Jessup, Pa.; assigned to Marine Forces Reserve’s Marine Wing Support Squadron 472, Marine Wing Support Group 47, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Wyoming, Pa.; died March 9 from wounds received while conducting combat operations in Anbar province, Iraq.

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Pa. Marine killed in Iraq had son, upcoming wedding

The Associated Press

JESSUP, Pa. — A Marine reservist killed in combat in Iraq died within two weeks of his scheduled journey home, when he planned to bond with his 14-month-old son and make arrangements for his wedding, his family said.

Lance Cpl. Dennis J. Veater, 20, of Jessup, Pa., died March 9 in Iraq’s Al Anbar province, the Defense Department announced March 10.

Veater’s girlfriend, Angalene Snipes, said she was preparing for a day of dress fittings with her bridal party when three Marines showed up at her door Friday to inform her that her fiance was dead.

“I said I’d never date someone from the military. I said I wouldn’t, and I ended up falling in love,” Snipes said while cradling their son, Dominick.

Snipes said she and Veater learned of her pregnancy the day before he left for boot camp. Their wedding was set for May 26.

Veater’s father, Donald Veater, a retired Marine sergeant major now living in Clarks Summit, said his son knew of the risk he was taking by enlisting.

“He expected he would be going to Iraq. ... You can’t be a Marine and not go help your buddies,” Donald Veater said.