Two Marines from Southern California killed in Afghanistan - Los Angeles Times

Two Marines from Southern California have been killed in Afghanistan, the latest "green on blue" attack, in which U.S. or NATO military personnel are killed by someone posing as an Afghan ally.

Thirty-seven U.S. and NATO personnel have died this year in such attacks.

Staff Sgt. Scott Dickinson of San Diego and Cpl. Richard Rivera Jr. of Ventura were killed Friday in Helmand province, long a Taliban stronghold. Killed in the same attack was Lance Cpl. Gregory Buckley of Oceanside, N.Y.

Initial reports are that the three were killed by an Afghan who was on an American base posing as a workman.

The three were killed just hours after three Marines from Camp Pendleton were killed by someone wearing an Afghan police uniform.

Dickinson, Rivera and Buckley were assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment from Camp Lejeune, N.C. Their parent command was the 3/3 from Hawaii.

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-- Tony Perry in San Diego

Photos: (Top) The remains of Staff Sgt. Scott Dickinson return to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. (Bottom) The remains of Cpl. Richard Rivera Jr. return to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. Credit: U.S. Air Force