LV Marines head to Iraq

Dick Benoit

Thursday, Sept. 9, 2004 | 8:49 a.m.

At least three Las Vegas Marines assigned to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) have recently deployed to Iraq.

Western High School 2002 graduate Cpl. Ernest Villegas, son of Michelle and Ernesto Villegas of Las Vegas; Sgt. Christopher Raggio, son of Gloria Pence of Las Vegas; and Sgt. Nicholas Barshick, grandson of Gene Ferbedino of Las Vegas, are with more than 2,200 Marines and sailors making up an expeditionary intervention force with the ability to rapidly organize for combat operations in any environment.

According to the Navy's Fleet Hometown News Center, the unit is ready to conduct amphibious, heliborne and boat raids, tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel, noncombatant evacuation operations and humanitarian assistance operations.

Two other Las Vegas Marines are members of the 11th MEU recently deployed with the USS Belleau Wood Expeditionary Strike Group. Cpl. Eduardo Gonzalez, Las Vegas High School class of 2000 and son of Martha and Ramiro Gonzalez of Las Vegas, and Cpl. Jeffrey Roberson, a 2002 graduate of Eldorado High School, are with more than 2,100 Marines and sailors in the Western Pacific and Central Command area of responsibility in support of the global war on terrorism.

New Army commission

Kyle Clarke, Chaparral High School class of 2000, was recently commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army after successfully completing the Army ROTC program and graduating with a bachelor's degree from Washington University in St. Louis.

According to the Army & Air Force Hometown news Service, Clarke, the son of Dale and Lisa C. Clarke of Las Vegas, will be assigned to a specific corps in the Army to serve on active duty or in the National Guard or Reserve. The lieutenant also will attend the officer basic course relating to his military occupational specialty/job. He is an engineering officer.

In brief