2 Marines from 1/1 die in Iraq

Two Marines from the Newport Beach-adopted 1st Battalion, 1st Marines were killed in combat over the weekend. The two young men are the first deaths suffered by the 1/1 during the war in Iraq, officials said.

The men were honored at the Tuesday night meeting of the Newport Beach City Council.

Funerals have not yet been held for the two Camp Pendleton Marines, who’s names the families do not want released to the public, said Gunnery Sgt. Rivero of Camp Pendleton.

One Marine, a 22-year-old corporal and noncommissioned officer, was married with three children, one of whom is 2 weeks old, Rivero said.

The second Marine killed was a 24-year-old lance corporal from Illinois, Rivero said.

“It made it all very personal,” said Newport Beach City Manager Homer Bludau, on first hearing that the Marines were killed.

The city of Newport Beach and the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines Committee have sponsored the Marines for more than three years. The committee raises money for the Marines and their families to be used for emergency situations and unforeseen expenses.

The largest fundraiser is the annual Mess Night, an evening at the Balboa Bay Club where civilians have the chance to pay for tickets and sponsor a Marine.

Since the Marines were deployed, the Arches restaurant has sent care packages full of necessities and fun stuff, like cigars and beef jerky, said restaurant owner Dan Marcheano.

Marcheano, a former Marine, has already started collecting donations for the families of the Marines who were killed.

“A tragedy like this ? there’s very little you can do, but we want them to know we’re standing by them,” Marcheano said.

Marcheano has begun notifying his friends and restaurant customers that the families of the fallen Marines are in need of money and supplies, he said.

The 1st Battalion, 1st Marines Committee has already sent flowers to the families, and they will be meeting soon to plan further outreach efforts, Bludau said.

“The city has been absolutely wonderful in its support for the members of the 1/1,” Marcheano said.