Cpl Michael B. Presley, 21, of Batesville, Mississippi, died December 14, 2005 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany of wounds sustained from a suicide, vehicle-borne improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Fallujah, Iraq, on Dec 12. Presley was assigned to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N. C.

Brandon joined the Marine Corps in 2003. He graduated from Parris Island in Dec of 2003 and continued his training in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Then he served one year with the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing at Okinawa, Japan.

After Japan, Brandon reported to the 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion for duty as a Motor Transport Operation in March of 2005 at Camp Lejeune. Cpl Presley deployed to the theater of operation in Sept of 2005 and supported numerous combat operations in support of the 2nd Marine Division, 8th Marine Regiment in Fallujian, Iraq.

On Dec 12th, 2005, while conducting a logistical convoy to the civil military operations center to deliver ballots and voting supplies in support of the Iraqi national election, the convoy that Cpl. Presley was participating in came under attack from a suicide vehicle borne improvised device (SVBIED). Cpl. Presley was the vehicle commander for the second Medium Tactical Replacement in the convoy. As the convoy passed, a taxi that had pulled off to the right side of route Fran, the taxi pulled out and into the path of Presley’s vehicle. When Cpl. Presley observed this he immediately started to initiate escalation force procedures. Due to the fact that the vehicle was non-responsive, Cpl Presley drew his M16A4 and was preparing to engage the lone occupant of the taxi. As he did this, the SVBIED initiated its device early, before it had actually impacted the MTVR.

This quick action saved not only his driver, but also the cargo that they were carrying, the Iraqi ballots. He valiantly put his fellow marines and mission accomplishment ahead of his own safety. Presley was wounded by shrapnel in the blast and later died of his wounds.

Cpl. Presley will be remembered for his broad smile, love of life and his devotion to duty.

Submitted by Pamela Cousar, Proud Mother of CPL. Michael B. Presley (Brandon)