OVERBROOK -- A Marine from Oklahoma was killed Sunday in Iraq, the Department of Defense said Monday.
Lance Cpl. Hatak Yuka Keyu M. Yearby, 21, of Overbrook in Love County was killed Sunday while "conducting combat operations against enemy forces" in Anbar province, the Pentagon said.
KTEN-TV in Denison, Texas, reported that the military told Yearby's family early Sunday that he was killed when the Humvee he was in struck a land mine.
Also killed was Lance Cpl. Jose S. Marin Dominguez Jr., 22, of Liberal, Kan.
Both were assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force at Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. Yearby and Dominguez were among seven U.S. military personnel killed during the weekend.
"Flags are at half-mast in honor of my son," Justin Yearby told KTEN. "It honors our family."
The family said Hatak Yearby -- the first name means "free man" -- joined the Marines because he was influenced by past veterans and warriors, KTEN reported.
A family friend, Wilson Roberts of Ada, said Yearby, an American Indian dancer in powwow competitions, wore two long braids until he woke one morning and told his mother he had to cut his hair because of a dream.
"That's one of the things he had to do to go into the Marines," he said.
The family said in a KTEN interview that Yearby treated his service in the Marine Corps as he treated his tribe -- "with respect, honor and dignity."
Yearby graduated in 2003 from Marietta High School, where Vice Principal
Pam Anderson described him as a quiet, well-mannered, good student.
"What I do remember is that they used to travel and dance. He had the costume and all that, and he always wore the long hair," she said.
When Yearby returned to the school last winter for a basketball game, Anderson hardly recognized him.
"I told him I was proud of him for what he was doing," she said.
KTEN reported that Yearby's body is expected to be returned to his family in the next seven to 10 days.
A 1998 article in the Daily Ardmorite described Justin Yearby as a member of the Creek and Choctaw tribes.
Yearby's survivors include his wife, Lindsey, whom he married in February; his parents, Justin and Mary Yearby; and two sisters, Shema Yearby and Samarrah Bell, a former Marine.
Chris Bell, Yearby's brother-in-law, said the family was not granting further media requests and wished to be respected during its time of mourning.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
World staff writer Manny Gamallo and The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Scooby Axson 581-8300
scooby.axson@tulsaworld.com
