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The Department of Defense has identified a Marine who died following medical evacuation from an aircraft carrier in the Middle East.

Lance Cpl. Benjamin W. Tuttle, 19, of Gentry, Ark., died at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany on Sunday after he was evacuated from the USS Nimitz during a scheduled port visit in Dubai in the 5th Fleet area of responsibility, a DOD press release said. He was supporting operations in Afghanistan.

The death is under investigation, the statement said.

A spokeswoman for Landstuhl said Tuttle arrived at the hospital Friday. A Marine liaison at Landstuhl said Tuttle’s parents arrived in Germany in time to see their son before he died.

The spokeswoman and liaison said they could not release the cause of death.

Tuttle was assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323, part of I Marine Expeditionary Force at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., near San Diego.

The USS Nimitz entered 5th Fleet waters in June after leaving the 7th Fleet area in the western Pacific.

news@stripes.com

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