Lejeune Marine killed in Iraq
Published: Fri, Nov. 03, 2006 12:00AM
Modified Fri, Nov. 03, 2006 03:52AM
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closeYPSILANTI, MICH. -- A North Carolina-based Marine who volunteered for a second deployment after being wounded about 1 1/2 years ago has been killed in Iraq, the military said Thursday.
Cpl. Gary A. Koehler, 21, of Ypsilanti, died Wednesday during combat in Anbar province, the Defense Department said. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Koehler, who recently married Hilary Moss, graduated in 2003 from Milan High School, where he was a football and baseball star, The Monroe Evening News reported. High school coaches remembered Koehler as a dedicated athlete.
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Milan football coach Steve Robb said Koehler showed him the scar that remained after he was shot in the thigh. Robb said he assumed at the time that the former defensive lineman wouldn't be deployed again.
"He said he had to go back because he couldn't let down the guys in his platoon," Robb said. "He was a warrior. He wanted to do what he could for his country."
Adam Gilles said he coached Koehler, a starting left fielder, in baseball all four years of the Marine's high school career.
"He was a leader on the team, and it didn't matter how old he was," Gilles said. "He would just go all out all the time. He was a great kid. Everybody liked him."
Gilles said Koehler was expected to come home a week ago but was held over.
"He was definitely a patriot," Robb said. "We need more guys like him."
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