Marine lost during training accident

[Muck]

Marine dies in training exercise at Camp Pendleton

A Marine died during a training exercise at Camp Pendleton on Friday, when an amphibious assault vehicle became submerged, authorities said.

Six Marines were riding in the assault vehicle when it became submerged in the Del Mar boat basin about 11:30 a.m., according to a written statement Pendleton officials released Friday afternoon.

It wasn't immediately clear how the five other Marines got out of the vehicle, but the remaining Marine was recovered about 2:15 p.m. and flown to Scripps La Jolla, where he was pronounced dead at 2:47 p.m., Pendleton officials said.

The other five Marines were uninjured.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the accident, Pendleton officials said.

According to Department of Defense policy, the name of the Marine will be held for 24 hours after his next of kin is notified, officials said.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the deceased Marine," Pendleton officials wrote in the statement.

Semper Fidelis Brother

 

[scooter1369]

Semper Fi, Brother. Time to take your place guarding the streets of heaven, my friend.

 

[Apache]

Semper Fi, Brother. Time to take your place guarding the streets of heaven, my friend.

Yes, how does that happen? Answer: These are dangerous times and men like he are there to make the sacrifice for us all. Doesn't make it any better does it?

We are fortunate to have people like this to step into harms way for us.

Semper Fi-Recon

 

[OilerBuck]

It takes a special person to put his life on the line for what he believes in, and the people he loves. So many have lost their lives for this cause, and this is further proof that sacrifice doesn't begin and end in the battlefield.

You all have the respect and appreciation of those of us who lack your courage.

 

[DubCoffman62]

Back in the 80's a marine from 29 Palms got left behind in the desert after a training exercise. He died trying to walk back. They found his body a few hundred yards from a highway. He tried to carry all of his gear back too.

 

[Muck]

7 Marines killed during explosion at Nevada's Hawthorne Army Depot

An explosion at a military ammunition storage facility in Nevada during a Marine Corps training exercise killed seven U.S. Marines and wounded several others, military officials said.

The North Carolina-based Marines with the 2nd Marine Division were killed late Monday when a 60-millimeter mortar exploded during a live-fire training exercise at Hawthorne Army Depot as they were preparing to fire it.

Brigadier General Jim Lukeman says the mortar exploded prematurely inside its firing tube during mountain training exercises. It's unclear what caused the malfunction.

The accident prompted the Marine Corps to immediately halt use of some mortar shells until an investigation can determine its safety, according to the Associated Press.

The Corps said in a statement that it suspended all use of high-explosive and illumination mortar rounds that were in the same manufacturing lots as the ones that were fired in Nevada. Other 60mm mortar rounds were still allowed to be used

The Marines were also considering a stop-usage order affecting the mortar tubes like the ones in the accident.

Eight men were taken to a medical center with injuries, such as penetrating trauma and fractures. One of them died, five were in serious condition, one was in fair condition and another was discharged, said Renown Regional Medical Center spokesman Mark Earnest.

The identities of those killed won't be released until 24 hours after their families are notified.

"We send our prayers and condolences to the families of Marines involved in this tragic incident," said the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force commander, Maj. Gen. Raymond C. Fox. "We mourn their loss, and it is with heavy hearts we remember their courage and sacrifice."
.../cont/...

 

[Smudger]

US Marine kills two colleagues at Quantico base - U.S. News

A Marine opened fire on two of his comrades Thursday night at a base in Quantico, Va., before turning the gun on himself, leaving all three dead, military officials said.


A relationship dispute was believed to be behind the shooting, which occurred in the staff barracks area of the Officer Candidates School at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Northern Virginia, a Marine official said.


The assailant and both victims, a man and a woman, were staff members at the school and not students, a senior defense official said. The official called the incident "isolated," adding: "There was nothing random here."

What a rough week this turned out to be. One of those killed was a woman, the other a man. 10 Marines dead in one week in the States. Awful.
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/201...ne-kills-two-colleagues-at-quantico-base?lite

 

[DubCoffman62]

I remember whn I was station at now closed George AFB in the high desert in California some marine from 29 Palms got left out in the desert during a training exercise, he died trying to walk back, he still had his equipment

 

[Smudger]

I remember whn I was station at now closed George AFB in the high desert in California some marine from 29 Palms got left out in the desert during a training exercise, he died trying to walk back, he still had his equipment

I couldn't even begin to tell you how many times I've been told about this. I wouldn't even hesitate to say every single Marine knows this story & knows it well. It always seems to bring out extreme anger from whoever is retelling it as well.

 

[DubCoffman62]

I couldn't even begin to tell you how many times I've been told about this. I wouldn't even hesitate to say every single Marine knows this story & knows it well. It always seems to bring out extreme anger from whoever is retelling it as well.

I remember when it happened because 29 Palms was so close to where I was. They say he was within 100 yards of the highway. He walked 17 miles, poor kid. Died of dehydration.

 

[scooter1369]

I hated 29 Stumps. Fuck that place

 

[ScriptOhio]

Back in the 80's a marine from 29 Palms got left behind in the desert after a training exercise. He died trying to walk back. They found his body a few hundred yards from a highway. He tried to carry all of his gear back too.

The Lance Corporal Jason Rother story:

Rother was assigned to Kilo Company, Third Battalion, Second Marine Regiment, Second Marine Division (K 3/2) based out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. In August 1988 the unit was sent to the massive Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms for desert warfare training in the Mojave desert. 1stLt Allen Lawson, a native of Flint, Michigan, was assigned the task of posting road guards on the night of August 30, 1988 along the route of a battalion night movement exercise. Lawson disobeyed an order to place road guards in pairs, got lost, forgot where he had placed LCpl Rother, and upon the completion of the exercise failed to note that Rother was missing, as did two sergeants responsible for LCpl Rother, Sgts Thomas Turnell and Christopher Clyde. It was over 40 hours before anyone in the battalion knew, or said, that Rother was missing. Several searches were launched with over 1,000 Marines on foot, helicopters, and thermal imaging gear. Rother was not carrying a map or compass and had very little water. He weighed only 135 lbs and was carrying an 80 lbs pack, an M-16 rifle, and 100 rounds of ammunition. The first search discovered he had left behind some of his gear and made an arrow out of stones where he had originally been dropped off. That search, and several others, however failed to locate him. LCpl Rother's remains would not be found until December 4, 1988. All that was left were his skeletal remains and his rifle that he had kept with him. It was estimated that Rother died less than 24 hours before the first search was launched and that the temperature on the day he died had reached 107 degrees Fahrenheit. He had hiked over 17 miles and was only two miles from the base.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Rother

Also LA Times article: http://articles.latimes.com/1989-01-10/news/mn-162_1_battalion-commander

The fallout:

The only officer charged as a result of the death of a Marine corporal abandoned in the Mojave Desert last August has been found guilty of dereliction of duty and sentenced to discharge and four months in jail.
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Several officers in Corporal Rother's battalion were reassigned after a Marine investigation of the incident, and two sergeants who were his immediate superiors were convicted by courts-martial and reduced in rank.

http://www.nytimes.com/1989/02/26/us/officer-convicted-in-marine-s-death.html