Families await return of local Marines injured in Baghdad

Thursday, April 10, 2003 | 11:22 a.m.

Shortly before dawn today, wounded Marine Sgt. Michael Dunn phoned his Las Vegas home from a hospital in Iraq to tell his family he loved them, but wanted to return to the war front.

Dunn, 26, took shrapnel in the back of his right arm while fighting on the outskirts of Baghdad on Tuesday. He and two other Las Vegas Marines from the more than 500-man 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines Fox Co. were injured in that skirmish.

Dunn's family was informed Tuesday that he had been wounded.

"It was a long two days waiting for his call, but Lori (Dunn's wife) got the call this morning and he let us know he is all right," said Dunn's mother, Liz Lampsa.

"He just told us he loves us and that he was leaving for Kuwait today to be checked out at a hospital. If he needs surgery he will be sent to a hospital in Germany. But he said he hopes instead to be sent back to the front so he can help finish the job so that his son won't have to one day go to war."

Two weeks ago Lori Dunn gave birth to the couple's first child, Kyle James.

Marine Capt. William Ghilarducci said today that nine Marines from the battalion were wounded, including the three Las Vegans and a Los Angeles man from Golf Co. who was attached to Fox Co.

Sgt. Jason Hathaway of Las Vegas suffered a spinal injury after falling from a building during a battle. Lance Cpl. Melvin Segovia, was shot in the leg, 1st Sgt. Randy Golden of Fox Co. said.

Dunn and Lance Cpl. Jimmy Guerralemus of Los Angeles suffered wounds from mortar fire or rocket-propelled grenades, Golden said. Shrapnel hit Guerralemus in the face, Golden said.

Ghilarducci said none of the wounds was critical. All have been classified as serious, he said.

Ghilarducci said all of the injuries resulted from what was described as heavy resistance from the enemy.

Dunn's journey has been a remarkable struggle -- a troubled youth who turned his life around to win the respect of his community and his nation.

Born in Arcadia, Calif., Dunn was raised in Las Vegas, where as a teenager he got into trouble with the law -- his family declined to give details -- and had to finish high school at a local youth camp. From there he joined the Marine Reserves.

For his efforts, Dunn was Nevada's nominee for the Spirit of Youth Award, an honor bestowed on young people who turn their lives around.

"I am proud of my brother because he was able to go to Iraq and fight for our freedom," 15-year-old Stephen Lampsa said. "I've always looked up to him because he has always stood up for me when people tried to bother me. He has always had time for his family."

A Marine reservist for seven years, Dunn enjoyed community events, especially ones where he could proudly wear his Marine dress blues. He served in color guards during several parades and other events, his mother said.

"I couldn't be more proud of him," she said.