Terre Haute-based Marines killed in Iraq

By Crystal Garcia
The Tribune-Star

Published: October 16, 2006

TERRE HAUTE — Friends and family were waiting late Monday to hear when the bodies of two Marines based out of Terre Haute will come home from Iraq.

Lance Cpl. Joshua Hines, 26, of Westfield, Ill., and formerly of Olney, Ill., and Sgt. Brock Babb, 40, of Evansville were killed around 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Iraq time, when an improvised explosive device struck their vehicle, said Staff Sgt. Tim Kosky.

Lance Cpl. Joshua Bleill, 29, of Greenfield also was in the vehicle and was seriously injured, but is expected to recover, Kosky said.

They were traveling in Humvees in the western Al Anbar province about 50 miles west of Baghdad.

All three were based with the Kilo Company 3rd Battalion 24th Marines Reservists of Terre Haute and had been in Iraq for about 18 days when the incident occurred. They were expected to stay about eight months, Kosky said.

Kosky of the Terre Haute Marine base had known the soldiers for about two years, he said.

“All three of them were excellent Marines,” he said.

Babb was in the Marine Corps during Desert Storm and rejoined two years ago, Kosky said.

“He was one of the best leaders I've ever seen as a Marine,” he said.

Hines and Bleill enlisted at the same time, after 9/11, Kosky said, so they knew they would “have to fight a war.”

“They looked forward to going to Iraq and defending their country,” he said. “That takes a lot of courage.”