Remains Of Marines, Sailor Recovered After Training Accident

CAMP PENDLETON, CA — The remains of seven Marines and a sailor were recovered Friday, after their amphibious assault vehicle sank July 30 during a training exercise off the coast of Southern California.

The recovered servicemen will be be transferred to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware for burial preparation, according to the Marine Corps. Their remains will then be released to their families.

"Our hearts and thoughts of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit are with the families of our recovered Marines and Sailor," said Col. Christopher Bronzi, 15th MEU commanding officer. "We hope the successful recovery of our fallen warriors brings some measure of comfort."

The military announced Tuesday that it found the vehicle that sank and confirmed the presence of human remains. The Navy's Undersea Rescue Command made the discovery Monday near San Clemente Island using video systems remotely operated aboard the HOS Dominator, a merchant vessel specializing in undersea search and rescue.

The Navy "has expedited the movement of assets" to recover the bodies of the servicemen and raise the AAV, a statement from the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force said.

Fifteen Marines and one Navy sailor were aboard the vehicle, which began taking on water for unknown reasons around 5:45 p.m. July 30 near San Clemente Island, roughly 70 miles off the coast of San Diego, according to Marine officials. The 26-ton vessel sunk to a depth of about 385 feet during a shore-to-ship maneuver.

Seven members of the Camp Pendleton-based crew survived the accident. Medics took two of the Marines to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, where both were admitted in critical condition. One was upgraded to stable condition as of last weekend, officials said. The other five rescued Marines received clean bills of health and returned to their units.

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.

The eight lost service members were identified as:

• 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.

The sunken AAV has also been recovered. The accident remains under investigation.

Read more:

• Sunken AAV Found, Military Working To Recover Remains Of Troops
• Officials ID Marines, Sailor Presumed Dead In Training Accident
• CA Capitol Flags At Half-Staff In Honor Of Fallen Service Members