MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Cpl. Riley E. Pape returned from Iraq to Camp Pendleton well-initiated as a warrior -- having cheated death several times in numerous military operations, with a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with combat distinguishing device to his credit.

But he couldn-t survive a spill on his own motorcycle.

It-s a tragedy that agonizes Pape-s friends and co-workers -- while underscoring refrains of caution continually sounded by base safety officials alarmed by Marines- recklessness on motorcycles.

Pape, 22, an instructor with Training Platoon, Company B, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, lost control of his Honda CBR-600 May 18 in National City. He was on terminal leave from the Marine Corps when he died.

"For someone who-s skill allowed him to escape death many times in war, he should have not died the way he did," said Navy Cmdr. Bill D. Devine, the 1st Marine Division Chaplain. "It shocked everyone."

Pape-s superiors were aghast that someone whose combat skills enabled him to laugh in the face of death could have fallen in such a manner.

"To lose a Marine in an off-duty vehicle accident is something hard to cope with," said Capt. Dean A. Schulz, commander of Company B, 1st Recon. Bn.

Pape was not only a well-trained warrior on the battlefield but an experienced rider who had passed the base motorcycle safety course.

Pape is the only Camp Pendleton-based Marine to die in a motorcycle accident this year, according to Staff Sgt. David S. Suder, 34, chief investigator with Security Battalion-s Accident Investigation Division. Five motorcyle accidents have occurred on base, resulting in three major injuries, Suder said.

"We have such a strict policy on safety and use of protective equipment that we are able to curb the amount of motorcycle accidents," Suder said. "Most motorcycle accidents involving Marines happen off base."

Pape apparently lost control of his bike and struck a telephone pole, according to Paul Parker, a medical examiner investigator with the National City Police Department. The accident is still under investigation he said, adding that he couldn-t say whether Pape was driving recklessly.

"He was a good rider," said Cpl. Darrell R. Hall, a radio operator with Company A, 1st Recon Bn. "He had been riding for about three years."

Hall choked back tears as he tried to cope with the death of his friend.

"After going through so many firefights together, you-d never think that he would die in such a way," Hall said.