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7 Marines and 1 Sailor Missing in California Accident Are Presumed Dead Marines Locate Missing Vehicle and Human Remains After California Accident
(about 20 hours later)
Seven Marines and a sailor who were missing after an accident off the coast of Southern California are now presumed dead after search and rescue efforts were called off on Saturday evening, the authorities said. An amphibious assault vehicle that took on water and sank last week off the coast of Southern California, killing one Marine and leaving eight service members presumed dead, was located on Monday, according to the authorities.
The Marine Corps on Sunday identified the service members who had been aboard an amphibious assault vehicle that took on water and sank on Thursday. Another marine died and two service members were injured. The incident is under investigation, the Marines said. The U.S. Navy’s Undersea Rescue Command confirmed that human remains had been identified using remote-operated video systems, the I Marine Expeditionary Force said in a statement on Tuesday.
The service members were assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit at Camp Pendleton, in the San Diego area. Efforts were now turning to recovering the remains of the eight presumed dead, the Marines said. Search-and-rescue efforts for the missing service members — seven Marines and one sailor — were called off Saturday evening. The accident, which left an additional two service members injured, is under investigation, the Marines said.
Lance Cpl. Guillermo S. Perez, 20, a rifleman , was pronounced dead at the scene, the statement said. The seven Marines presumed dead, who were also riflemen, were named as Pfc. Bryan J. Baltierra, 18; Lance Cpl. Marco A. Barranco, 21; Pfc. Evan A. Bath, 19; Pfc. Jack Ryan Ostrovsky, 21; Cpl. Wesley A. Rodd, 23;Lance Cpl. Chase D. Sweetwood, 19; and Cpl. Cesar A. Villanueva, 21. The Marines said the equipment needed to recover the service members’ remains and to raise the vehicle from the seafloor would be in place at the end of this week. “A dignified transfer of our Marines and sailor will occur as soon as possible after the conclusion of recovery operations,” the corps said in the statement.
Hospitalman Christopher Gnem, 22, a sailor, was also presumed dead, the statement said. Lance Cpl. Guillermo S. Perez, 20, a rifleman, was pronounced dead at the scene, the Marines said in a statement. On Sunday, the corps identified the seven Marines presumed dead, who were also riflemen, as Pfc. Bryan J. Baltierra, 18; Lance Cpl. Marco A. Barranco, 21; Pfc. Evan A. Bath, 19; Pfc. Jack Ryan Ostrovsky, 21; Cpl. Wesley A. Rodd, 23; Lance Cpl. Chase D. Sweetwood, 19; and Cpl. Cesar A. Villanueva, 21.
“It is with a heavy heart that I decided to conclude the search and rescue effort,” Col. Christopher Bronzi, a commanding officer, said in a statement on Saturday. “The steadfast dedication of the Marines, sailors and Coast Guardsmen to the persistent rescue effort was tremendous.” Hospitalman Christopher Gnem, 22, a sailor, was also presumed dead, the statement said.
At the time of the accident the vehicle was traveling from San Clemente Island back to a ship that was more than 1,000 meters off shore, Gen. David H. Berger, Commandant of the Marine Corps, said on Friday. All 16 service members aboard the assault vehicle were assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit at Camp Pendleton, in the San Diego area.
“It is with a heavy heart that I decided to conclude the search-and-rescue effort,” Col. Christopher Bronzi, a commanding officer, said in a statement on Saturday. “The steadfast dedication of the Marines, sailors and Coast Guardsmen to the persistent rescue effort was tremendous.”
At the time of the accident the vehicle was traveling from San Clemente Island back to a ship that was more than 1,000 meters off shore, Gen. David H. Berger, commandant of the Marine Corps, said on Friday.
At around 5:45 p.m., the personnel onboard reported that the A.A.V. was taking on water, the statement said.At around 5:45 p.m., the personnel onboard reported that the A.A.V. was taking on water, the statement said.
Two nearby amphibious assault vehicles witnessed it sink and were able to pinpoint its exact location, General Berger said.Two nearby amphibious assault vehicles witnessed it sink and were able to pinpoint its exact location, General Berger said.
Officials said it was unclear how the accident happened. The depth of the water drops off quickly around the island, so the vehicle was in several hundred feet of water when it sank, said Lt. Gen. Joseph L. Osterman, commanding general of the I Marine Expeditionary Force. When the vehicle left shore, conditions had been acceptable for travel, he said.Officials said it was unclear how the accident happened. The depth of the water drops off quickly around the island, so the vehicle was in several hundred feet of water when it sank, said Lt. Gen. Joseph L. Osterman, commanding general of the I Marine Expeditionary Force. When the vehicle left shore, conditions had been acceptable for travel, he said.
General Osterman estimated that the oldest person aboard the vehicle was around mid-30s in age and that the youngest was around 18. Those on board were wearing combat gear and flotation devices, he said. Those on board were wearing combat gear and flotation devices, General Osterman said.
There are around 800 amphibious assault vehicles in Marine inventory, he said, each of which can carry up to 21 people and weigh 26 tons.There are around 800 amphibious assault vehicles in Marine inventory, he said, each of which can carry up to 21 people and weigh 26 tons.
A.A.V.’s are slow, lightly armored and are considered by many Marines as particularly vulnerable, especially during conflict. As the Marines have sought a replacement, the A.A.V. has remained a cornerstone in the Corps’ inventory, simply because of its amphibious capabilities. It is prone to leaking while at sea from both its rear ramp and troop compartment. A.A.V.s are slow, lightly armored and are considered by many Marines as particularly vulnerable, especially during conflict. As the Marines have sought a replacement, the A.A.V. has remained an inventory cornerstone simply because of its amphibious capabilities. It is prone to leaking while at sea from both its rear ramp and troop compartment.
Camp Pendleton hosts the largest Marine base on the West Coast, and Marines often practice beach assaults there using the amphibious troop transport vehicles.Camp Pendleton hosts the largest Marine base on the West Coast, and Marines often practice beach assaults there using the amphibious troop transport vehicles.
Marines have used the vehicles to move troops from the sea and land since the 1970s. In 2017, 15 Marines were wounded when an amphibious vehicle they were training in caught fire at Camp Pendleton.Marines have used the vehicles to move troops from the sea and land since the 1970s. In 2017, 15 Marines were wounded when an amphibious vehicle they were training in caught fire at Camp Pendleton.
Thomas Gibbons-Neff contributed reporting.Thomas Gibbons-Neff contributed reporting.