Another Hawai'i Marine has died from injuries in Iraq, bringing to seven the number of deaths that have hit the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, since it left for the country in March.

Marine Corps Base Hawai'i officials did not provide any details yesterday, pending official release by the Pentagon and notification of the family.

Three other Kane'ohe Bay Marines with the 3/3, known as "America's Battalion," were killed within the past two weeks.

Lance Cpl. Jose S. MarinDominguez Jr., 22, of Liberal, Kan., and Lance Cpl. Hatak Yuka Keyu M. Yearby, 21, of Overbrook, Okla., were in a vehicle that was hit by a roadside bomb, an official said. Another Marine was wounded.

The Marines were on a combat patrol to escort an explosive ordnance disposal team to the site of another reported roadside bomb that was discovered before detonation. MarinDominguez and Yearby struck a second bomb.

Lance Cpl. Adam C. Conboy, 21, of Philadelphia, was shot in the chest by friendly fire, his mother said.

After the three deaths, 3/3 battalion commander Lt. Col. Norm Cooling said, "We take all losses hard, but we are committed to making a difference here (and) to standing up the Iraqi Security Forces in the face of constant insurgent activity."

MarinDominguez and Yearby were "American heroes of the highest caliber," and Conboy's contributions were no less substantive, Cooling said by e-mail.

The battalion headquarters is at Haditha Dam northwest of Baghdad, but its 900 Marines and companies are spread throughout the "Triad" of Haditha, Haqlaniyah and Barwana near the Euphrates River and down to the Baghdad-Jubbah-Dulab region.

Several weeks ago, a handful of insurgents drove by the police station in Baghdadi and killed 15 police recruits with small-arms fire, Marines with the unit reported.

Marines and Iraqi soldiers have been exposed to all-too-frequent roadside bomb blasts, and some have engaged in small-arms firefights with insurgents.

The Marines patrol the streets with "jundi," Iraqi junior enlisted soldiers, looking for insurgent activity.

"You never know when (a blast) is going to strike," Sgt. Andy Darnell said in a Marine Corps report. "Marines are trained to keep their eyes open to anything suspicious and to wear every bit of protective gear they are issued."

Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com.