(June 15, 2007)—California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered the flag flown at half staff at the California Capitol in Sacramento in honor of Marine Lance Cpl. Johnny Strong of Waco, who was killed in action in Iraq on Tuesday.

Strong was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, United States Marine Corps, based at Twentynine Palms, Calif.

Schwarzenegger released a statement Thursday on Strong’s death.

“Maria and I, along with all Californians, are saddened by the loss of Lance Corporal Johnny Strong. His dedication and loyalty to this great country will forever be remembered. Today we honor him for his courageous duty and send our most sincere thoughts and prayers to Johnny’s family and friends in Texas.”

Strong, was a 2004 A.J. Moore Academy graduate, who, friends say, had wanted to be a Marine since he was a child.

He was last in Waco in December before starting his second deployment.

Strong is the first service member from Waco and the fourth Marine from Central Texas to die in the war.

Marine Lance Cpl. James Casper of Coolidge died of a non-combat related cause in March 2004 in Iraq.

Lance Cpl. Louis W. Qualls, 20, of Temple died in action in November 2004 in Iraq’s volatile al Anbar Province.

Gunnery Sgt. John D. Fry, 28, of Lorena died in a homemade bomb explosion in March 2006 in al Anbar Province.

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