(June 14, 2007)—The Department of Defense confirmed Thursday that Lance Cpl. Johnny R. Strong, 21, of Waco, died Tuesday during combat operations in Iraq’s volatile Al Anbar Province.

Strong, a 2004 A.J. Moore Academy graduate, was on his second deployment to Iraq with the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, from Twentynine Palms, Calif.

The Marine Corps is usually sparing with details on its combat deaths.

But Strong's parents were told that he died when his platoon was ambushed during a routine patrol.

Marine Lance Cpl. Nicholas Blanchard, an A.J. Moore High School classmate of Strong's, said three other Marines from Strong's platoon died that same day in a roadside bombing.

Strong's friends and family say he'd wanted to be a Marine since he was a child.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

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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