Alexander Edmund Wetherbee – First Lieutenant, United States Marine Corps

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NEWS RELEASE from the United States Department of Defense
No. 892-04
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sep 13, 2004

Dod Identifies Marine Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

First Lieutenant Alexander E. Wetherbee, 27, of Fairfax, Virginia, died September 12, 2004, from injuries received from enemy action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. Wetherbee was assigned to 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California.

For further information related to this Marine contact the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Public Affairs Office at (760) 725-5044.

Monday, September 13, 2004
Camp Pendleton Marine officer killed in Iraq

A U.S. Marine from Fairfax County, Virginia, on his second tour in Iraq has died from injuries sustained in the fighting, the Defense Department said.

First Lieutenant Alexander E. Wetherbee, 27, died Sunday from injuries received due to enemy action in Al Anbar Province, Iraq, Camp Pendleton said in a news release Monday.

Officials at the base declined to give any additional detail about what caused Wetherbee’s death, but said he was an assault amphibious vehicle officer assigned to 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force.

Wetherbee joined the Marine Corps in December 2001.

The Washington Post said a family member reached at the home of Wetherbee’s parents in McLean declined to be interviewed, saying only: “He was a wonderful young man, very loving. This is a terrible time for us.”

Camp Pendleton in Caifornia says a Marine from Fairfax has died from injuries sustained in the fighting in the war in Iraq.
The Marine was identified as 27-year-old First Lieutenant Alexander Wetherbee. Camp Pendleton says he died Sunday from injuries received due to enemy action in Iraq.

Wetherbee was in his second deployment to Iraq. He worked as an assault amphibious vehicle officer assigned to the First Marine Expeditionary Force.

A spokesman at Camp Pendleton declined to say how Wetherbee died.

Marine First Lieutenant Alexander Wetherbee, 27
Tuesday, September 21, 2004

U.S. Marine Corps First Lieutenant Alexander E. Wetherbee was killed in action Sept. 12 while serving in Anbar province in Iraq. Lieutenant Wetherbee, 27, was a platoon commander leading a unit from the 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, near Fallujah.

He was born in Fairfax County into a Foreign Service family and lived in Ethiopia, India, Norway and Pakistan. He graduated from McLean High School in 1995 and was captain of the lacrosse team his senior year. He received an undergraduate degree in forest resources from the University of Idaho, where he was active in the outdoor and forest fire control programs. He graduated in 2001.

While in college, he attended recruit training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, where he was platoon honorman and was promoted meritoriously to lance corporal. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Program (Marine Option) after his graduation from the University of Idaho.

Assigned to the 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Lieutenant Wetherbee served in combat during the drive from Kuwait to Baghdad in March and April 2003. He was with his unit on a second deployment in Iraq when he was killed.

His awards include the Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Citation, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with bronze service star and the National Defense Service Medal.

Lieutenant Wetherbee was an active outdoorsman. He enjoyed rock and ice climbing, kayaking, backpacking and other backcountry activities. When not in military training during summers at college, he worked as an Outward Bound instructor.

Survivors include his wife of four years, Heather Shade of Twentynine Palms, California; his parents, Doris and Harry Wetherbee of McLean; his brother, Navy Lieutenant Donald G. Wetherbee of Virginia Beach; and his grandparents, Donald and Virginia Wetherbee of McLean.

ALEXANDER EDMUND WETHERBEE
FIRST LIEUTENANT US MARINE CORPS

First Lieutenant ALEXANDER E. WETHERBEE, USMC, was killed in action on September 12, 2004 while serving in Anbar Province in Iraq. Lt. Wetherbee was a platoon commander with the 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force.

Lieutenant Wetherbee was born in Fairfax, Virginia, and graduated from McLean High School in 1995. He is survived by his wife, Heather Shade Wetherbee, of 29 Palms, California; his parents, Doris and Harry Wetherbee of McLean, Virginia; his brother, Lieutenant Donald G. Wetherbee, USN, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and grandparents, Donald and Virginia Wetherbee, also of McLean.

There will be an opportunity to pay respects to Lieutenant Wetherbee between 9 and 11 a.m., Wednesday, September 22, at Arlington Funeral Home, 3901 N. Fairfax Dr. All are welcome to attend. There will also be an opportunity to offer condolences to Lieutenant Wetherbee’s family beginning at 5 p.m., Wednesday evening at 3945 N. Dumbarton St., McLean.

In his memory, his family is establishing a scholarship with Outward Bound. Eligible will be children of those who gave their lives in service of their country in the military.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that contributions be sent to Outward Bound West, Attn: Nigel Gregory (marked for the Alexander Wetherbee Scholarship Fund), 910 Jackson St., Golden, Colorado 80401.

WETHERBEE, ALEXANDER E
1STLT US MARINE CORPS

  • VETERAN SERVICE DATES: 01/27/2002 – 09/12/2004
  • DATE OF BIRTH: 06/04/1977
  • DATE OF DEATH: 09/12/2004
  • DATE OF INTERMENT: 10/09/2004
  • BURIED AT: SECTION 60 SITE 7998
  • ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

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