Virginia Marine dies in Afghanistan

A Marine infantryman from Fairfax County died Sunday in what the Department of Defense described as a non-hostile incident in Afghanistan's Helmand province.

Lance Cpl. Daniel R. Bennett, 23, of Clifton was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C., military officials said yesterday.

The incident is under investigation, according to the Department of Defense.

According to the 2nd Marine Division's public affairs office, Bennett joined the Marine Corps on June 5, 2006. He served in Iraq from July 31, 2007, until Jan. 25, 2008, and was deployed to Afghanistan on Nov. 12.

His awards include the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.