Officials ID Marines, Sailor Presumed Dead In Training Accident

CAMP PENDLETON, CA — Military officials Monday publicly identified a Marine who was killed and eight other service members presumed dead after an amphibious assault vehicle sank during a training exercise last week off the coast of Southern California.

Fifteen Marines and one Navy sailor were aboard the vehicle, which began taking on water around 5:45 p.m. Thursday near San Clemente Island, roughly 70 miles off the coast of San Diego, according to Marine officials.

All the Marines involved were assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is based at Camp Pendleton. Four of the service members were from California.

Lance Cpl. Guillermo S. Perez, 20, of New Braunfels, Texas, was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said. Perez was a rifleman with Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 1/4, 15th MEU.

A search ended over the weekend for seven Marines and a Navy sailor who went missing after the accident. The eight service members presumed dead are:

• Pfc. Bryan J. Baltierra, 18, of Corona in Riverside County, a rifleman with Bravo Company, BLT 1/4, 15th MEU.
• Lance Cpl. Marco A. Barranco, 21, of Montebello, California, a rifleman with Bravo Company, BLT 1/4, 15th MEU.
• Pfc. Evan A. Bath, 19, of Oak Creek, Wisconsin, a rifleman with Bravo Company, BLT 1/4, 15th MEU.
• U.S. Navy Hospitalman Christopher Gnem, 22, of Stockton, California, a hospital corpsman with Bravo Company, BLT 1/4, 15th MEU.
• Pfc. Jack Ryan Ostrovsky, 21, of Bend, Oregon, a rifleman with Bravo Company, BLT 1/4, 15th MEU.
• Cpl. Wesley A. Rodd, 23, of Harris, Texas, a rifleman with Bravo Company, BLT 1/4, 15th MEU.
• Lance Cpl. Chase D. Sweetwood, 19, of Portland, Oregon, a rifleman with Bravo Company, BLT 1/4, 15th MEU.
• Cpl. Cesar A. Villanueva, 21, of Riverside, a rifleman with Bravo Company, BLT 1/4, 15th MEU.

"It is with a heavy heart, that I decided to conclude the search and rescue effort," said Col. Christopher Bronzi, 15th MEU commanding officer. "The steadfast dedication of the Marines, Sailors and Coast Guardsmen to the persistent rescue effort was tremendous."

The service members were inside the 26-ton amphibious vehicle en route to a waiting ship when it started taking on water, said Lt. Gen. Joseph Osterman, commanding general of 1st MEF.

Seven of the Marines were able to get out of the sinking vehicle and were pulled from the water. Five were brought aboard the USS Somerset, while medics took two of the Marines to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, where both were admitted in critical condition.

One of the Marines was upgraded to stable condition as of Sunday night, officials said. The other five rescued Marines returned to their units.

Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard helicopters, ships and watercraft worked to find more survivors, but they concluded the search and rescue operation after 40 hours of searching more than 1,000 square nautical miles.

"Our thoughts and prayers have been, and will continue to be with our Marines' and Sailor's families during this difficult time," Bronzi said. "As we turn to recovery operations we will continue our exhaustive search for our missing Marines and Sailor."

The incident remains under investigation. The Undersea Rescue Command will use an underwater drone to search for the victims' remains, with support from supply ship HOS Dominator, officials said.

"A grateful nation and the Department of Defense grieves the tragic loss of the Marines and Sailor lost in the amphibious assault vehicle accident off the coast of San Clemente Island," U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said. "Our prayers and condolences are with the family and friends of these brave young men."

Gov. Gavin Newsom said flags at the State Capitol will be flown at half-staff in their honor.

"Jennifer and I were heartbroken to learn of the loss of nine service members in an accident off San Clemente Island," Newsom said. "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."