Marine Lance Cpl. Tavon L. Hubbard
Death: Aug 11, 2004
" of Reston Va.; assigned to the Command Element 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit I Marine Expeditionary Force Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton Calif.; killed Aug. 11 in a helicopter crash in Anbar province Iraq. When high school football coach John Ellenberger had to lecture his wide receiver Tavon Hubbard he would try to be stern. But he always ended up smiling. ""He was that kid who was always joking Ellenberger recalled. He was a real easygoing kid. ... He was fun to be around."" Hubbard24 had been in Iraq less than two months when he was killed Aug. 11 in a helicopter crash. The Reston Va. native was stationed at Camp Pendleton Calif. A postal clerk Hubbard joined the Marines in 1998 after graduating from high school where he played football and track. He leaves behind a 3-year-old daughter. Hubbard's younger brother Andre Baker questioned why Hubbard had to die. ""I believe we should be sending our troops home Baker said. There's no point being over there when we're losing more and more lives."" — Associated Press"