R.I.P. - Cpl. Conner T. Lowry

DOD Identifies Marine Casualty

            The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
           
Cpl. Conner T. Lowry, 24, of Chicago, Ill., died March 1 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.


            This incident is under investigation.


            For additional background information on this Marine, news media representatives may contact the 1st Marine Division public affairs office at 760-725-8766.


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from nbcchicago:

A United States Marine from the Chicago area was killed this week in Afghanistan amid the rising attacks on American military personnel in that country.

Cpl. Conner Lowry, a 24-year-old graduate of Brother Rice High School, was a gunner on a Humvee when he was killed. The family said Lowry was electrocuted.

"Conner was doing what he believed in, and that was fighting for us, for our country," said his friend, Owen Yanz.

Lowry was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif., the Department of Defense said Friday.

Lowry's family said the 6 feet, 5 inch tall former football player loved rock 'n roll music and had a large network of family and friends. Inside his old Beverly neighborhood bedroom, Lowry's uncle showed off his nephew's beat up guitar, huge sneakers and dress blues.

"He was just a great guy," said the uncle, Kevin Lavin. "You couldn't ask for a better person."

At St. John Fisher, Lowry's former elementary school, Sister Jean McGrath called the former student "the go-to guy." In the hallway, his 2002 high school graduation picture is adorned with a red, white and blue ribbon. Outside, students decorated trees with red, white and blue bows.

Lowry's grade school yearbook says he wanted to be an NBA coach or a sportscaster.

Lowry had been a Marine for nearly three years and had just four months to go before being discharged, the family said.

Lavin said Lowry's body will return to the United States on Saturday afternoon. St. John Fisher has offered to host the wake and funeral likely to be held Wednesday and Thursday.

The Marine is survived by his mother, two sisters and two brothers.

• http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/illinois-soldier-killed-afghanistan-141136073.html
• http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-20120302-005,0,7309938.photo
• http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2012/03/ap-corporal-killed-in-afghanistan-mother-030212/
• http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/metro/conner-lowry-chicago-marine-dies-afghanistan-brother-rice-graduate-20120302 

Chicago Marine Dies in Afghanistan: MyFoxCHICAGO.com

Posted in: 1st Marine Division, Afghanistan, fallen heros, Helmand Province, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Operation Enduring Freedom