Jolie, Colorado Marine touch base in Iraq

Rosa Ramirez, Rocky Mountain News

Published August 29, 2007 at midnight

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Movie star Angelina Jolie crossed paths with a lucky Colorado Marine this week during her trip to Iraq and Syria.

While raising awareness of people displaced by the war, Jolie made a special visit to U.S. Marines, including Lance Cpl. Samuel Petersen, 22, who grew up in metro Denver.

Marines had an opportunity to have their pictures taken with Jolie, Sue Petersen of Centennial, the Marine's mom said today.

In a photo published in OK! Magazine, Petersen is shown hugging the glamorous actress.

According to OK!, Jolie visited troops near the Al Waleed refugee camp in Iraq yesterday. She also met international troops.

"I was surprised but I know she's known for doing that," she said of Jolie's visit.

The Marine's mom told the magazine her son and others are training Iraqi police how to patrol the border.

Samuel Petersen was born in Nebraska. His family moved to Colorado when he was two years old, his mother said.

"I consider him a Colorado native."

He graduated from Cherry Creek High School in 2003.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, this was Jolie's first trip to Iraq and Syria.

While there, she inspected a refugee site that serves as a school for thousands of Iraqi children.

"I have come to Syria and Iraq to help draw attention to the humanitarian crisis and to urge governments to increase their support for UNHCR and its partners," Angelina said, according to OK! "My sole purpose in both countries is to highlight the plight of those uprooted by the war in Iraq."

The UN refugee agency also said "she spent a lot of time with sick children and elderly refugees."

According to OK!, the Oscar-winning actress was accompanied by her bodyguard.

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