A U.S. Marine Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV) takes part in a landing operation during a military Exercise Baltops 2018, at the Baltic Sea near Vilnius, Lithuania, on June 4, 2018. A Coast Guard cutter and helicopters from the Navy, Marines and Coast Guard are being used in the search, along with a destroyer and other surface vessels. On the evening of July 30, 2020, an amphibious assault vehicle (AAV) loaded with 15 Marines and a Navy Sailor took on water and rapidly sank off the coast of Southern California. Seven missing Marines and one sailor are feared dead after a training accident with an amphibious assault vehicle off the coast of Southern California. Lt. Col. Michael Regner, commander of the unit involved in July’s amphibious assault vehicle accident, was relieved Tuesday of his command by Lt. Gen. Karsten S. Heckl, commanding general, I Marine Expeditionary Force, the Marine Corps said. Evan A. Bath, 19, of Oak Creek, Wisconsin, a rifleman, U.S. Navy Hospitalman Christopher Gnem, 22, of Stockton, California, a hospital corpsman, Pfc. Marine AAVs have been in service since 1972 and have been involved in three mishaps around San Diego in the last 10 years. Lt. Gen. Joseph Osterman, the former head of I Marine Expeditionary Force, told reporters last week that the AAV sank in several hundred feet of water. Eight were rescued that day, one of whom was pronounced dead at the scene. The Marines, assigned to the San Diego-based 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, had been conducting a routine training exercise near San Clemente Island in coordination with the … “This is a tragic accident, and we are praying for the loved ones of our lost and injured Marines,” Brig. (Staff Sgt. The incident began around 5:45 p.m. local time on Thursday, when Marines in an amphibious assault vehicle reported they were taking on water. The … Still onboard the AAV when it sank were Pfc. Sixteen people were inside the vehicle at the time of the accident. "Literally every asset we had that was available to search" was launched, Osterman said. The commander of a Camp Pendleton-based battalion was relieved of command months after a fatal amphibious vehicle accident killed nine service … One was involved in a … Nine of the 16 service members inside the AAV were tragically killed in the incident. The commandant of the Marine Corps has suspended all waterborne operations of its more than 800 amphibious assault vehicles until the cause of the accident is determined. At least two others were injured in the accident, which occurred Thursday, and have been transported to Southern California hospitals, according to a news release from the US Marine Corps 1st Expeditionary Force. Chase D. Sweetwood, 18, of Portland, Oregon, a rifleman and Cpl. Wesley A. Rodd, 22, of Harris, Texas, a rifleman, Lance Cpl. Don't miss the top Marine Corps stories, delivered each afternoon. The Navy is … The AAV involved in the incident was returning to the amphibious transport dock Somerset after conducting a training raid at San Clemente Island, California, when it “rapidly sank” in about 1,500 meters of water with 15 Marines and one sailor on board. "I've directed an immediate suspension of amphibious assault vehicle water operations until the causal factors of this mishap are better understood," Berger said. The crew of the AAV was able to escape and all the service members who died were in the rear compartment used to transport troops, a Marine spokesman said. One Marine was killed, two were hurt, and the eight were missing after a tragic amphibious assault vehicle (AAV) accident took place off the … The AAV is below the depths where divers can go, so the Navy is assisting and providing resources that can go down and take a look at the vessel, according to Marine Lt. Col. Jody Osterman. According to 1 Marine Expeditionary Force, the service members on board the AAV were assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and based out of Camp Pendleton, about fifty miles north of San Diego. A look at the lives of the 8 Marines, sailor lost in sunken amphibious assault vehicle, Interviews: National Guardsmen in US capital for inauguration, Capitol riots aftermath, and a new push for counter-drone efforts - Defense News Weekly 01.17.21, Reporters Roundtable: Defending the Capitol, National Guard at the Capitol | Military Times Reports, Meet the OnlyFans model and neuroscience student who’s giving back to the troops, How the Air Force is making Marine recon better, Marine veteran is now second double-amputee police officer in the country, US Naval Academy taps Marine Corps artillery officer as next commandant of midshipmen, SECNAV Braithwaite bids farewell to sailors and Marines, http://www.marinecorpstimes.com © 2021 Sightline Media Group. MORE: Marine AAV that sank in deadly accident found 385 feet under Pacific Ocean There were 16 aboard the AAV when it began taking on water during a shore-to-ship maneuver about a mile off the coast of San Clemente Island last month. The AAV, which sank after taking on water while training with other assets belonging to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit in the vicinity of San Clemente Island, had 16 troops aboard in total. “Although the Command Investigation has compiled a substantial amount of information and data which formed the basis for Heckl’s decision, it is still ongoing as the Marine Corps continues to investigate, assess all relevant information, and take appropriate actions,” the press release said. Guillermo S. Perez, a 19-year-old from New Braunfels, Texas, was pronounced dead on the scene, while two other Marines were rushed to the hospital, Marine Corps Times previously reported. Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard assets are searching for eight missing troops following a deadly Marine amphibious vehicle accident that took place Thursday afternoon off the coast of southern California.. All of the service members in the incident are assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit based out of Camp Pendleton. "First step is to conduct a search and rescue and take care of their families, so that's what the focus is today.". By giving us your email, you are opting in to the Marine Corps Times Daily News Roundup. The name of the Marine killed will be withheld until 24 hours after next of kin have been notified. By Joe Sutton, Veronica Stracqualursi, Madeline Holcombe and Cheri Mossburg, CNN. In combat, 15 Marines … The Amphibious Assault Vehicle was part of a training exercise for the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) near San Clemente Island. That includes an inflatable vest. Some were able to escape, 2 injured, 8 missing, one dead. Kassie McDole/Marine Corps) A Marine Corps amphibious assault vehicle accident off the coast of Southern California that killed one Marine on … Kassie McDole/U.S. https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/31/politics/marine-death-amphibious-vehicle A Marine rifleman with Bravo Company, BLT 1/4 and a Marine AAV crewmember with Mechanized Co., BLT 1/4 were injured. Please keep our Marines, Sailors, and their families in your prayers as the search continues," Secretary of Defense Mark Esper tweeted. Gen. Roberta Shea, commanding general of 1st Marine … The bodies of the deceased eight service members were recovered with the vehicle. At least 1 Marine has died and 8 others are missing after an accident involving an amphibious vehicle off the coast of Southern California on July 30, 2020. Searchers find sunken amphibious assault vehicle in a training exercise sank off shores... Giving us your email, you are opting in to the Marine killed will be withheld until hours! 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