Vehicle sunk in training accident found with bodies of Marines, sailor off CA coast
Marine Corps officials found the bodies of seven Marines and one sailor who disappeared after their amphibious military vehicle sank in deep water off the California coast during a training exercise last week, the Orange County Register reported.
All of the victims’ families were notified Aug. 3 after the Marine Corps identified them, according to the Register.
Recovery crews used an undersea search-and-rescue vessel to find the bodies near San Clemente Island, KSWB reported. The servicemen went missing on the evening of July 30, according to the Marine Corps.
The eight servicemen found were identified by the Marines as:
- Pfc. Jack Ryan Ostrovsky, 21, of Bend, Oregon
- Lance Cpl. Chase D. Sweetwood, 18, of Portland, Oregon
- Pfc. Bryan J. Baltierra, 18, of Corona, California
- Lance Cpl. Marco A. Barranco, 21, of Montebello, California
- Pfc. Evan A. Bath, 19, of Oak Creek, Wisconsin
- U.S. Navy Hospitalman Christopher Gnem, 22, of Stockton, California
- Cpl. Wesley A. Rodd, 23, of Harris, Texas
- Cpl. Cesar A. Villanueva, 21, of Riverside, California
Lance Cpl. Guillermo S. Perez of New Braunfels, Texas, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Marine Corps.
“Jennifer and I were heartbroken to learn of the loss of nine service members in an accident off San Clemente Island,” Governor Gavin Newsom said in an Aug. 4 statement. “It is a painful reminder of the sacrifice of members of our armed forces, who put their lives on the line for us. We stand united in mourning with their families and fellow Marines and sailors.”
Newsom ordered flags at the state capitol be flown at half-staff in honor of the fallen service members, the statement says.
Sixteen men were aboard the amphibious assault vehicle (AAV) as it was headed back to a Navy ship following a routine training exercise, the Bellingham Herald reported.
The AAV “took on water and sank” near San Clemente Island and rescue crews were able to rescue eight Marines, according to an Aug. 2 post on the U.S. Marine Corps Facebook page.
This story was originally published August 4, 2020 at 3:24 PM with the headline "Vehicle sunk in training accident found with bodies of Marines, sailor off CA coast."