The Department of Defense announced today the death of two Marines who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Lance Cpl. Ryan J. Burgess, 21, of Sanford, Mich.

Lance Cpl. Ryan L. Mayhan, 25, of Hawthorne, Calif.

Burgess and Mayhan died Dec. 21 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. They were assigned to 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.

For further information about these Marines, please call the Twentynine Palms public affairs office at (760) 830-3760.