A 27-year-old Marine from Fairfax County died Sunday of wounds he received during combat in Iraq's Anbar province.
First Lt. Alexander E. Wetherbee, an assault amphibious vehicle officer, was serving his second deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since joining the Marine Corps on Dec. 22, 2001.
Wetherbee was assigned to the 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton in California.
Yesterday, Defense Department officials released few details about Wetherbee or his death, but said his awards include the Combat Action Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and the National Defense Service Medal.
A family member reached at the home of Wetherbee's parents in McLean declined to be interviewed, saying only: "He was a wonderful young man, very loving. This is a terrible time for us."
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