Marine Sergeant Killed in Nairobi Blast

Story by SSgt Yvonne Reed-Clark,
PAO, MCB, Quantico, Va.

Clara L. Aliganga accepted a Purple Heart medal during a ceremony at the Quantico, Va., United States Marine Corps Memorial Chapel Aug. 12 in honor of her son, Marine Sergeant Jesse N. Aliganga, who was killed in the Aug. 7 bombing of the American Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya.

During the ceremony, Aliganga's name was added to the Security Guard Battalion's "Wall of Honor." His nameplate joins those of the 11 other Marine security guards who have been killed in the line of duty since 1968.

Aliganga, a native of Tallahassee, Fla., graduated from recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C., in January 1995. After completing Marine Combat Training at Camp Lejeune, N.C., he received additional training as a communications specialist at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., and Keesler Air Force Base, Biloxi, Miss.

He served with the Third Marine Division, Okinawa, Japan, and the 1st Force Service Support Group, Camp Pendleton, Calif., before being selected for training as a Marine security guard. He graduated from the Marine Security Guard School Feb. 20 and was assigned to the American Embassy in Nairobi.

Aliganga's other awards include the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Marine Security Guard Ribbon and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

Aliganga's sister, Leah A. Colston, described her younger brother as small in stature but possessing a big heart. He joined the Marine Corps, she said, in order to prove something to himself and to others. Joining the ranks of some of the Corps' best trained and most disciplined members seemed to fit his style, his family said.