Topeka ? A Marine sergeant from Hutchinson was killed Monday while conducting combat operations in Iraq, the Marines announced Wednesday.

Sgt. Christopher S. Perez, 30, was shot and killed while fighting insurgent forces in Ramadi in the western regions of Iraq, the Marines said. He was the third member of the military with ties to Kansas to die in Iraq since Sunday and the 19th Kansan to die since the start war.

On Sunday, Sgt. Benjamin C. Morton, 24, of Wright, died when his patrol met small arms fire in Mosul. Sgt. Kenneth J. Schall, 22, of Peoria, Ariz., who was stationed at Fort Riley, died Sunday in a motor vehicle accident.

Perez, who joined the Marines in January 1996 and joined his unit in January 2004, was assigned to Headquarters and Service Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Perez worked in the division’s training section before deploying, Camp Lejeune spokesman Lt. Barry Edwards said. Perez was the commander of the guard for the combat operations center and responsible for overseeing and supervising the Marines at the center, Edwards said.

Perez also implemented and organized training for the Marines in division headquarters, Edwards said.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius will lead a Memorial Day ceremony at the Statehouse in Topeka honoring all servicemen and women killed in combat during the nation’s history.

“This is such an incredible loss to yet another Kansas family,” Sebelius said. “My thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and comrades of this courageous man who has given his life fighting for freedom.”

A soldier from Kansas City, Mo., Sgt. Charles T. Wilkerson, 30, also was killed Sunday in Baghdad. He died when an unknown device exploded near his tent. Wilkerson was assigned to the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, out of Fort Carson, Colo.

As of Wednesday, at least 1,648 members of the U.S. military have died in Iraq.