November 16, 2010

Flags lowered to honor war casualty

Under a proclamation signed by Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, the United States flag and the Illinois flag are to be at half-staff at all State of Illinois facilities in honor of a U.S. Marine Corps soldier killed earlier this month in the war in Afghanistan.

Flags are to be flown at half-staff from sunrise, Thursday, Nov. 18, until sunset, Saturday, Nov. 20, in honor of Lance Cpl. James B. Stack.

Reports say that Stack, 20, of Arlington Heights, was killed Nov. 10 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Stack enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2009 and was on his first tour of duty, arriving in Afghanistan about a month ago, according to reports.

Stack was a 2008 junior national champion in Olympic-style air pistol shooting. A rifleman, Stack was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force in Camp Pendleton, Calif.