Canham, Dustin Lee
Lance Corporal Dustin Lee Canham, a 21-year-old U.S. Marine from Lake Stevens, Washington, was killed in action on March 23, 2008, in Djibouti, Djibouti.
Their Story
Dustin Lee Canham was a Lance Corporal in the United States Marine Corps. He was from Lake Stevens, Washington, and was assigned to Headquarters and Service Company, 6th Engineer Support Battalion, part of the 4th Marine Logistics Group based in Portland, Oregon. According to unit designations, he was deployed under the II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
On March 23, 2008, Canham was killed in a non-combat related incident in Djibouti, a small nation in the Horn of Africa. The U.S. Department of Defense stated he died from a gunshot wound. The Marine Corps later announced that the wound was self-inflicted, according to an investigation by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
Operation Enduring Freedom was the U.S.-led military campaign that began in October 2001, initially focused on Afghanistan. The mission later expanded to include counter-terrorism operations in other regions, including the Horn of Africa. Djibouti hosts Camp Lemonnier, a major U.S. expeditionary base used for operations across Africa and the Middle East.
Canham's death was reported by the Department of Defense and several news outlets. He was one of at least 2356 American service members who died during Operation Enduring Freedom. His family and community in Washington state held memorial services.
Lance Corporal Canham is remembered on memorial walls and veteran websites. His name is inscribed on the Lake Stevens Veterans Memorial. He was posthumously awarded the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.
Explore Further
Lance Corporal Canham was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001?2014). The conflict concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.