By Associated Press
Birmingham AL – Brenda Murkerson remembers August 23rd, the date that her son left for his third trip to Iraq.
She also will remember October 1st, the day that Marine Gunnery Sgt. Jerome Murkerson of Adger died in combat in Baghdad.
Sgt. Murkerson was based at Cherry Point, North Carolina, assigned to Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, of the II Marine Expeditionary Force.
His mother says Murkerson had a wife and three children, and he wanted to protect that wife and those three children, as well as the rest of us. She says he did his job well and the family is proud of him.
The Pentagon says Murkerson was killed Monday during combat operations in the Anbar province near Baghdad. The military didn't release additional details, and Brenda Murkerson says the Pentagon hasn't told relatives anything more.