The Department of Defense announced today the death of 16 Marines who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Capt. Paul C. Alaniz, 32, of Corpus Christi, Texas

Lance Cpl. Jonathan E. Etterling, 22, of Wheelersburg, Ohio

Capt. Lyle L. Gordon, 30, of Midlothian, Texas

Lance Cpl. Brian C. Hopper, 21, of Wynne, Ark.

Lance Cpl. Saeed Jafarkhani-Torshizi Jr., 24, of Fort Worth, Texas

Cpl. Sean P. Kelly, 23, of Gloucester, N.J.

Staff Sgt. Dexter S. Kimble, 30, of Houston, Texas

Lance Cpl. Allan Klein, 34, of Clinton Township, Mich.

Cpl. James L. Moore, 24, of Roseburg, Ore.

Lance Cpl. Mourad Ragimov, 20, of San Diego, Calif.

Lance Cpl. Rhonald D. Rairdan, 20, of San Antonio, Texas

Lance Cpl. Hector Ramos, 20, of Aurora, Ill.

Lance Cpl. Darrell J. Schumann, 25, of Hampton, Va.

1stLt. Dustin M. Shumney, 30, of Vallejo, Calif

Cpl. Matthew R. Smith, 24, of West Valley, Utah

Lance Cpl. Joseph B. Spence, 24, of Scotts Valley, Calif

All died Jan. 26 when the CH-53E helicopter they were in crashed near Ar Rutbah, Iraq. Alaniz, Gordon, and Kimble were assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif. The others were assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

News media with questions about Alaniz, Gordon or Kimble can call the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Public Affairs Office at (858) 577-7542 during working hours and (858) 864-3406 after hours. News media with questions about the other Marines can call the Marine Corps Base, Hawaii Public Affairs Office at (808) 257-8840 or (808) 257-8839.