Marine Corps Pfc. Hallal was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California. Hallal was killed by hostile fire. Deryk was a 1998 graduate of North Central High School in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was considered an All-American kid by nearly everyone who knew him. He loved sports, especially basketball and enjoyed playing video games. After graduation, he studied computer programming at Professional Careers Institute. Deryk also modeled occasionally, taking advantage of the 6 foot 5 inch frame he had used as a wide receiver in high school but his dream was to be a sports agent. In May 2003, he joined the Marines as a rifleman and arrived in Iraq in late February. He told his family that he was glad to be in Iraq and wanted to give hope to Iraqis. Deryk was a big jokester who often performed impressions of John Kerry, Ross Perot, and George W. Bush. On April 6, 2004, the Marines were engaged by the enemy in Al Anbar province, just west of Baghdad. Deryk moved as the Point man for the squad as the insurgents launched a major offense. During the initial engagement, he was caught in the open, exposed and under intense enemy rocket-propelled grenade, machine gun, and small arms fire. He returned accurate fire, immediately eliminating three insurgents and allowing the squad to position themselves for an assault against the enemy strongpoint. Ordered to clear an enemy emplacement, he courageously led the attack, moving through difficult urban terrain while constantly under intense enemy fire. Deryk received gunshots in both the right and left thigh fracturing his left femur rendering him unable to move on his own. He continued to fire on the enemy as the other Marines attempted to move him to a covered position. He continued encouraging his squad mates and engaging the enemy as his brother Marines began to carry him into an alleyway. A bullet struck him and they could do little more than administer morphine and say a prayer as he died in the street. Deryk's tombstone located in the "Field of Valor" is 3 feet high and has the following inscription on it: "Christ died for your sins, Our son died for your Freedom."
Marine Corps Pfc. Hallal was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California. Hallal was killed by hostile fire. Deryk was a 1998 graduate of North Central High School in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was considered an All-American kid by nearly everyone who knew him. He loved sports, especially basketball and enjoyed playing video games. After graduation, he studied computer programming at Professional Careers Institute. Deryk also modeled occasionally, taking advantage of the 6 foot 5 inch frame he had used as a wide receiver in high school but his dream was to be a sports agent. In May 2003, he joined the Marines as a rifleman and arrived in Iraq in late February. He told his family that he was glad to be in Iraq and wanted to give hope to Iraqis. Deryk was a big jokester who often performed impressions of John Kerry, Ross Perot, and George W. Bush. On April 6, 2004, the Marines were engaged by the enemy in Al Anbar province, just west of Baghdad. Deryk moved as the Point man for the squad as the insurgents launched a major offense. During the initial engagement, he was caught in the open, exposed and under intense enemy rocket-propelled grenade, machine gun, and small arms fire. He returned accurate fire, immediately eliminating three insurgents and allowing the squad to position themselves for an assault against the enemy strongpoint. Ordered to clear an enemy emplacement, he courageously led the attack, moving through difficult urban terrain while constantly under intense enemy fire. Deryk received gunshots in both the right and left thigh fracturing his left femur rendering him unable to move on his own. He continued to fire on the enemy as the other Marines attempted to move him to a covered position. He continued encouraging his squad mates and engaging the enemy as his brother Marines began to carry him into an alleyway. A bullet struck him and they could do little more than administer morphine and say a prayer as he died in the street. Deryk's tombstone located in the "Field of Valor" is 3 feet high and has the following inscription on it: "Christ died for your sins, Our son died for your Freedom."
