Camp Pendleton mourns death of Staff Sgt. Justin E. Schmalstieg

CAMP PENDLETON - Camp Pendleton today was mourning the combat death of yet another one of its Marines in Afghanistan.

Staff Sgt. Justin E. Schmalstieg, 28, of Pittsburgh, Pa. died Wednesday in Helmand province, Afghanistan, according to the Department of Defense.

Schmalstieg was assigned to the 1st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force.

So far there have been more than 1,300 U.S. deaths in Afghanistan related to the 9-year-old Operation Enduring Freedom, according to the Pentagon.

Since June, Camp Pendleton...