Camp Lejeune on Tuesday announced that a Marine based in North Carolina was killed while overseas supporting the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.

Cpl. William J. Cooper, 22, of Eupora, Miss., died Monday while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune.

Cooper, a rifleman, joined the Marine Corps on Dec. 27, 2004. He joined his unit in March 2006.

The initiative is mission led by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and established in late 2001 by the United Nations Security Council to secure the nation from the Taliban. Forty nations contribute about 47,000 military and civilian personnel to the cause.

His awards include the Good Conduct Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Combat Action Ribbon and two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons.