Marine Lance Cpl. Tavon L. Hubbard

Died August 11, 2004 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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24, of Reston, Va.; assigned to the Command Element, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif.; killed Aug. 11 in a helicopter crash in Anbar province, Iraq.

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When high school football coach John Ellenberger had to lecture his wide receiver Tavon Hubbard, he would try to be stern. But he always ended up smiling. "He was that kid who was always joking," Ellenberger recalled. "He was a real easygoing kid. ... He was fun to be around." Hubbard, 24, had been in Iraq less than two months when he was killed Aug. 11 in a helicopter crash. The Reston, Va., native was stationed at Camp Pendleton, Calif. A postal clerk, Hubbard joined the Marines in 1998 after graduating from high school, where he played football and track. He leaves behind a 3-year-old daughter. Hubbard's younger brother, Andre Baker, questioned why Hubbard had to die. "I believe we should be sending our troops home," Baker said. "There's no point being over there when we're losing more and more lives."

— Associated Press