RICHLAND, Wash. (AP) - A Marine from Richland who was killed when a helicopter crashed northwest of Baghdad was set to return home in March from his third tour in Iraq.

The Defense Department said today that 27-year-old Sergeant Travis D. Pfister was one of five Marines and two Navy medics who died last Wednesday when their CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter crashed in Al Anbar province.

The cause of the crash is under investigation, although military officials last week said early indications were that the CH-46 loss was due to mechanical failure. An Iraqi air force officer said the CH-46 had been shot down.

Pfister was assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton, California.

He graduated from Hanford High School in 1997 and enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1998. He was married to Jennifer, also a Marine.