Liberty Marine Dies In Iraq

LIBERTY, Texas -- A Marine from southeast Texas who was killed in Iraq was remembered by family members and friends as a man of great faith who leaves behind six younger siblings.

Lance Cpl. Jeremy W. Burris, 22, was killed Monday while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, the U.S. Department of Defense said.

Brent Burris said Tuesday that his son was driving a patrol vehicle, accompanied by two other Marines, when they hit an explosive device hidden in the road.

He survived the initial blast and helped get the wounded Marines out of the damaged vehicle, his father said. But when he returned to the vehicle to get some equipment, a second explosive detonated and he was killed instantly, Brent Burris said.

Jeremy Burris wrote about the desert on his MySpace blog.

"I know I'm here for a purpose," he wrote. "I know God is growing me. It does make it easier to think that the size of the trial you go through determines the size of the prize on the other side."

Brent Burris said his son had lived in Liberty, about 40 miles northeast of Houston, since he was 12. After he finished home-schooling, Jeremy Burris moved to Tacoma, Wash., to participate in a Christian discipleship program. The military listed his hometown as Tacoma.

Jeremy Burris attended the non-denominational Cornerstone Church in Liberty, where he led praise and worship sessions for the youth group and was a guitar player during the main services.

"He was a precious young man who touched many lives," pastor Mike Glazener said.

Friends posted messages of thanks on Jeremy Burris' MySpace page.

"Thank you Jeremy for your sacrifice," one friend wrote.

Burris stayed in Washington for almost two years before enlisting in the Marine Corps about 11/2 years ago, his family said.

Burris was assigned to 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Brent Burris said funeral arrangements have not yet been made.