Cpl. Michael A. Estrella, 20, of Hemet, Calif., was killed after attacked by small arms fire while on patrol in Al Anbar province, Iraq. No other details about his death were released by defense officials.

Estrella was a field radio operator with the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, from Marine Corps Base, Hawai'i. He joined the Marine Corps in September 2003 and reported to the Kane'ohe Bay base in May 2004. He was deployed to Afghanistan with the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment from November 2004 to June 2005. He deployed to Iraq in March.

Since arriving in Iraq in March, and through April 22, the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment had lost three Marines. From April 28 through Wednesday, at least nine have been killed.