The Pentagon today said Lance Cpl. Timothy W. Brown, 21, of Sacramento, Calif., died yesterday while conducting combat operations in western Iraq.

Brown is the ninth Hawai'i Marine with the 2nd Battalion to be killed in Iraq since late September. Approximately 1,000 Marines with the unit are serving a seven-month tour in the Haditha Dam area northwest of Baghdad.

Multinational Corps-Iraq said three Marines assigned to Regimental Combat Team 7 — the higher command for Hawai'i Marines — were killed yesterday.

Marine Corps officials at Kane'ohe Bay could not say whether other Hawai'i Marines also were killed.

"We can only confirm one right now," said Maj. Chris Perrine, a base spokesman.

Brown, an assault specialist, joined the Marine Corps in September 2005 and reported to Hawai'i in March. He deployed to Iraq in September.

His awards included the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.