On Sunday, Staff Sgt. Louis F. Cardin became the first U.S. Marine to be killed by ISIS since the start of Operation Inherent Resolve. Cardin is the second American casualty of the conflict after the death of Army Master Sgt. Joshua Wheeler in October 2015.

According to the Pentagon, Cardin was “providing force protection fire support at a recently established coalition fire base near Makhmur in northern Iraq” when ISIS attacked on Sunday morning. Prior to this attack, the existence of the fire base had not been revealed to the American public.

Using rockets, militants attacked the newly established base and wounded eight other Marines. The service quickly dispatched Marines from the 26th MEU to Iraq to bolster the 3,600 already stationed there.

The military said in a statement that its priority was securing the fire base and providing for the families impacted by the attacks.

“We deeply mourn the loss of one of our own, Marine Staff Sergeant Louis F. Cardin. Staff Sergeant Cardin and the other Marines injured in the attack yesterday on the base near Makhmour in northern Iraq were there to provide force protection capability in support of the fight against Daesh (ISIS),” the statement read. “Staff Sergeant Cardin’s service and his many important contributions will long be remembered by his fellow Marines, his teammates at United States Central Command, and a grateful nation. Our gratitude and heartfelt condolences go out to this young man’s family and friends.”

Cardin was 27 years old and grew up in southern California. As a U.S. Marine, he earned many decorations while serving in both Iraq and Afghanistan:

– Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medal

– Three Marine Corps Good Conduct medals

– Three Afghanistan Campaign medals

– Iraq Campaign medal

– National Defense Service medal

– Presidential Unit Citation-Navy

– Navy Unit Commendation Medal

– NATO Medal-ISAF Afghanistan

– Global War on Terrorism Medal

– Three Sea Service Deployment ribbons