Penny, Richard Rees

Richard Rees Penny was a 21-year-old Marine from Fayetteville, Arkansas. He served as a Lance Corporal with the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, of the I Marine Expeditionary Force Forward, based out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

On May 6, 2010, Penny died in Helmand province, Afghanistan. According to the Department of Defense, his death was the result of hostile action. He was reportedly killed by an improvised explosive device while on a dismounted patrol in the southern province, a center of Taliban activity.

His death occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. In late 2009, President Barack Obama ordered a surge of 30,000 additional U.S. troops, many of whom were deployed to Helmand to secure population centers. The spring of 2010 saw intense fighting as Marines pushed into Taliban strongholds.

The Department of Defense announced Penny's death on May 8, 2010. His body was returned to the United States, and he was buried with military honors. His family and community in Arkansas held memorial services.

Lance Corporal Penny is memorialized on the Afghanistan War Memorial at the Washington County Courthouse in Fayetteville. His name is also inscribed on the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines memorial at Camp Lejeune.

Lance Corporal Penny was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–2014). The conflict concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.

Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.

← Return to the full memorial | Add a memorial record