The war in Iraq claimed the lives of two more men from the Kane'ohe-based battalion fighting in Al Anbar province, the Department of Defense announced yesterday.

Marine Gunnery Sgt. Terry J. Elliott, 34, of Middleton, Tenn., and Navy hospital corpsman Matthew G. Conte, 22, of Mogadore, Ohio, died Thursday during "combat operations."

Both were assigned to the Hawai'i-based 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, which has now suffered 21 casualties since deploying to the region last September.

Elliott was a platoon sergeant who joined the Marines in June 1992. He was stationed in Hawai'i in 2004 and had previously deployed to Afghanistan with the 2/3 from May 2005 to January 2006.

His awards include the Purple Heart, three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, four Good Conduct Medals, two National Defense Service Medals, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, four Sea Service Deployment Medals, the Marine Corps Recruiting Ribbon, the United Nations Medal, and the North American Treaty Organization Medal.

Conte joined the Navy in January 2004 and reported to Hawai'i in November 2004. Like Elliott, Conte also deployed with the battalion to Afghanistan from May 2005 to January 2006.

Conte's awards include the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, and a Sharpshooter Ribbon.

Reach Mike Gordon at mgordon@honoluluadvertiser.com.