Marine Who Died in Iraq was Following Family Tradition

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - His brother says an eastern Kentucky
Marine who died in Iraq was following a family tradition of serving
in the military.

Twenty-two-year-old Lance Corporal Jonathan Thornberry died
Wednesday while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province.
He was assigned to Marine Forces Reserve's Third Battalion, 24th
Marine Regiment, Fourth Marine Division, in Johnson City,
Tennessee.

His brother Jeff, of McDowell in Floyd County, was following in
the footsteps of his brother, father and grandfather when he joined
the military.

Jeff Thornberry served in the Air Force until 1998 and had spent
time in Iraq. He said his father served in Vietnam and grandfather
in World War Two.

Jonathan Thornberry was graduated from South Floyd High School
and worked in coal mines. He joined the reserves in January 2004.

Much cooler conditions behind the front