Christopher Riviere, 21, had been in Iraq only a few weeks, a Hawai'i-based Marine private assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment out of Kane'ohe Bay. Yesterday, the Pentagon announced his death.

Riviere's death was the first of this deployment for the unit, which is operating in one of western Iraq's most dangerous regions.

Riviere, a rifleman from Cooper City, Fla., died Tuesday of wounds received during combat operations against enemy forces. He was part of a security detail when he was struck by small-arms fire in Al Anbar province.

In Florida yesterday, Riviere's sister said the family was not ready to discuss their loss. It was all too new, she said, her voice on the edge of despair.

Riviere joined the Marine Corps in September 2005. He was assigned to Marine Corps Base, Hawai'i, in March.

Nearly 1,000 Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment deployed to Iraq to replace another Hawai'i-based unit, the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment.

The "3/3," as the battalion is known in military jargon, suffered through a difficult deployment: 14 Marines were killed since March.

The Hawai'i battalions have been based at Haditha Dam, northwest of Baghdad, but their Marines have been spread throughout the "Triad" of Haditha, Haqlaniyah and Barwana near the Euphrates River and down to the Baghdadi-Jubbah-Dulab region.

Riviere's fellow Marines will be there for seven months.

Reach Mike Gordon at mgordon@honoluluadvertiser.com.