Fallen Danville Soldier 'Chachi' to be Honored Saturday in So. California

The Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif., is honoring several fallen Marines from the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines Regiment, on Wednesday.

The Center, about 500 miles south of Danville, will focus the ceremony on the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines Regiment's Marines in a memorial service May 2.

Among the marines honored is . He was a machine gunner assigned to the 3rd Battalion. He died under combat operations in Afghanistan. His personal awards include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and Global War on Terrorism Medal.

The other Marines being honored are Lance Cpls. Jordan S. Bastean, Jason N. Barfield, Nickolas A. Daniels, Cpls. Zachary C. Reiff and Christopher G. Singer, and Staff Sgt. Joseph D'Augustine.

These Marines were deployed to Sangin, Afghanistan. During their seven-month deployment it was considered one of the most dangerous places in the region, according to a Combat Center release. However, the 3/7 had the lowest casualty rate of any battalion for Operation Enduring Freedom 11.1; they had approximately 44 wounded and seven killed in action, the release said.

Victor 3/7 participated in five named operations, had over 400 improvised explosive device finds that led to develop counter IED tactics, techniques and procedures that have spread throughout the Marine Corps. The unit defeated the enemy and repelled their force in over 115 small arms engagements, and assumed security for the entire Sangin district, which was once held by three infantry battalions.

The other fallen Marines include:

• Lance Cpl. Jordan S. Bastean, 19, of Pekin, Ill., was a basic infantry assault man assigned to 3/7. He died Oct. 23, 2011 under combat operations in Afghanistan. His personal awards include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Medal and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal.
• Lance Cpl. Jason N. Barfield, 22, of Ashford, Ala., was a combat engineer assigned to 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion and attached to 3/7 for deployment. He died Jan. 21 under combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. His personal awards include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal and the NATO-ISAF Medal.
• Lance Cpl. Nickolas A. Daniels, 25, of Elmwood Park, Ill., was a combat engineer assigned to 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion and attached to 3/7 for deployment. He died Nov. 5, 2011 under combat operations in Afghanistan. His personal awards include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and Global War on Terrorism Medal.
• Cpl. Zachary C. Reiff, 22, of Preston, Iowa, was a tow gunner assigned to 3/7. He died Nov. 21, 2011 under combat operations in Afghanistan. His personal awards include Purple Heart (second award), Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and Global War on Terrorism Medal.
• Cpl. Christopher G. Singer, 23, of Riverside, Calif., was a combat engineer assigned to 3rd CEB and attached to 3/7 for deployment. He died Jan. 21 while conducting combat operations in Afghanistan. His personal awards include the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, National Good Conduct Medal, Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and Global War on Terrorism Medal.
• Staff Sgt. Joseph D'Augustine, 29, of Waldwick, NJ, was an explosive ordnance disposal technician assigned to 8th Engineer Support Battalion and attached to 3/7 for deployment. He died March 27 while conducting combat operations in Afghanistan. His personal awards include the Purple Heart, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal (third award), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, and NATO-ISAF Medal.

Although 3/7 had a successful deployment and greatly impacted the Afghan people, the release state, the Combat Center and the battalion remembers the fallen that are being honored Wednesday.

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