22 Aug 2008:
IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 712-08
August 22, 2008

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DoD Identifies Marine Casualty

            The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

            Sgt. Nickolas Lee Hopper, 27, of Montrose, Ill., died Sept. 8, 2007 from wounds received while supporting combat operations in Anbar province, Iraq, on June 20, 2005. Hopper’s final autopsy concluded his death was a result of wounds received in Iraq; however, Hopper was not previously identified as an OIF casualty. He was assigned to the 2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, Marine Air Control Group-28, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Cherry Point, N.C.

19 Apr 2005
WE ARE CURRENTLY LIVING IN TIN CANS. MORAL IS RATHER LOW DO TO THE FACT OF THE LONG WORK DAYS. WE HAVE ELECTRICITY (220)AND ARE LIVING OFF OF BASE POWER,THAT IS RATHER UNRELIABLE. MOST OF THE MARINES HAVE AQUIRED POWER INVERTERS THAT ALOWS US TO UTILIZE 110. OUR COOKING ARANGEMENTS ARE LIMITED DO TO OUR SMALL AREA IN THE ROOMS.
COMPUTER ACCESS IS LIMITED DUE TO THE TIMES MY SQUAD IS WORKING. MY SQUAD IS AN AMAZING GROUP OF EXPERIENCED MARINES. DISPITE THE CONDITIONS WE MAKE DO AND TRY TO MAKE THE BEST OF EVERY SITUATION. CURRENTLY WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF CHANGEING OUR CURRENT JOB STATUS AND IT HAS MANY OF THEM WORRIED. I AM A 2 TERM SGT AND AM CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF REENLISTMENT. I HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR 2 YEARS NOW AND JUST RECENTLY HAD A SON NAMED ANDREW JAMES BORN MARCH 21ST 2005. MY WIFE IS MY GOD SENT BLESSING I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO WITHOUT HER. I AM FROM A RURAL TOWN IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS. I PROUDLY CALL MYSELF A NEW AGE MAGYVER, A JACK OF ALL TRADES MASTER OF NONE. I CARE VERY MUCH FOR THE WELLBEING OF MY MARINES. THEY WORK THEIR HEARTS OUT AND CONSITANLY TRY TO FIND A POSITIVE ATTIUDE TOWARD THIS WAR. MANY OF OUR MARINES WHERE NOT AWARE OF WHAT TYPES OF THINGS ARE NECESSITYS OVER HERE AND I JUST WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THEIR LIVES A LITTLE EASIER. I AM REQUESTING DAILY USE ITEMS SUCH AS GEBER MULTI TOOLS, KNIVES, WATCHES, GYM EQUIPMENT (IE PROTIEN NITRO-TECH, CELL-TECH,WORK OUT GLOVES SIZE MED/LRG,WEIGHT STRAPS) HEADPHONES, FOOD (WE DO NOT HAVE REFRIGERATORS BUT UTILIZE COOLERS WHEN WE CAN(TUNA IS A GREAT MEAL ON THE GO AND IN THE ROOMS),CANDY, GUM, CRACKERS, JUICE BOX DRINKS, GATORADE, WHITE SOCKS SIZE 6-12, ANYTHING WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THESE ARE JUST A FEW THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO GET TO MY MARINES. WE ALL TRULY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND GOD BLESS. THANK YOU AGAIN SGT HOPPER