Marine, 21, from Mansfield killed in Iraq

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – A Mansfield, Wash., Marine serving in Iraq has been killed in enemy action, the U.S. Marine Corps announced Friday.

Lance Cpl. Caleb J. Powers, 21, died Tuesday in enemy action in Al Anbar Province. Powers was a rifleman assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force from Camp Pendleton.

John Powers, Caleb’s grandfather, confirmed by telephone from the central Washington town that the family had received word of the death. He declined to comment further or speak about his grandson.

Ric Bayless, who coached Caleb Powers in eight-man football during high school and serves as the family’s pastor at United Protestant Church, said family members learned of the death Tuesday.

The family was told Powers was shot during a light-arms skirmish and pronounced dead by a field doctor, he said.

Powers enlisted on June 11, 2001, shortly after he turned 18 and before graduation, Bayless said.

Bayless said the funeral was tentatively scheduled for next Friday.