CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — The widow of one of the Camp Lejeune Marines killed in combat in Iraq on Wednesday called her husband and the others "heroes."

"The fact that my husband lost his life because they didn't want to take innocent lives is that he's going to bring the rest of those Marines home," Shelley Pokorney said, "and they are going to all come home, and they're going to give me a hug.

"I can't wait for that day, because that would make my husband the proudest man on the earth."

Shelley Pokorney held a news conference Wednesday, just days after learning that her husband, 2nd Lt. Frederick E. Pokorney, Jr., was one of at least nine killed in the battle near An Nasiriyah. She has requested her husband be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

He left behind his wife and infant daughter.

Shelley Pokorney said she had a bad feeling when her husband left two months ago. But she added that she expects the Marine family to provide plenty of support for her and her daughter.