US Marine from Oklahoma dies in Iraq

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A California-based Marine from Nicoma Park was killed Wednesday in Iraq. <br/><br/>Lance Cpl. Joseph L. Nice, 19, died because of enemy action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, the Department

Friday, August 6th 2004, 9:24 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A California-based Marine from Nicoma Park was killed Wednesday in Iraq.

Lance Cpl. Joseph L. Nice, 19, died because of enemy action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, the Department of Defense reported Thursday.

The Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif., where he was based, would not give details about the enemy action. Capt. Chad Walton said two other Marines, including one from Nice's unit, were also killed Wednesday in Al Anbar Province.

Nice enlisted in the Marine Corps June 10, 2003, the Marine Corps center reported.

He trained in San Diego before joining a Twentynine Palms-based battalion as an ammunition man.

Nice was deployed to Iraq in February and likely would have returned to the United States in September with his unit, Walton said.

Nice was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, for serving in the military while the country is at war; the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, for serving overseas; and the War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, for serving in the war on terrorism.

Nice is survived by his mother, Marilyn Nice, of Prague, Okla., and father, Lloyd Nice, the Marine Corps reported.