Amphibious assault vehicle (AAV), Remains of 7 Marines, Sailor recovered

The remains of seven Marines and a Sailor were successfully recovered Friday after underwater salvage operations following the July 30 mishap involving an amphibious assault vehicle off the coast of San Clemente Island.

The recovered Marines and @USNavy Sailor will soon be transferred to Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, for preparation by mortuary affairs teams for burial. Marine and @USNavy pallbearers will place the remains aboard an aircraft bound for Dover AFB in a solemn transfer.

From Dover AFB, their remains will then be released to their families in accordance with their wishes, and we ask that the privacy of the families be respected as they make final arrangements for their loved ones.
Our hearts and thoughts of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit are with the families of our recovered Marines and Sailor. We hope the successful recovery of our fallen warriors brings some measure of comfort.” Col. Christopher Bronzi Commanding officer.

The Navy has led the underwater search and salvage efforts. Specialized equipment on a diving and salvage ship to recover the remains and AAV arrived Thursday to relieve the crew of HOS Dominator, which stayed in position after locating the site.

Lance Cpl. Guillermo S. Perez, 19, of New Braunfels, Texas, also died in the mishap. Perez was pronounced dead at the scene July 30. His remains were transferred Wednesday to Dover AFB. The sunken AAV has been successfully recovered. The mishap is under investigation.

We will upload photos when officially released.

4 August

Officials with the @15thMEUOfficial and the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) positively identified on Aug. 3 the location of the amphibious assault vehicle (AAV) that sunk off the coast of San Clemente Island on July 30.

Undersea Rescue Command confirmed human remains were identified with remotely-operated video systems aboard HOS Dominator, an undersea search & rescue ship. The Navy has expedited the movement of assets to recover the remains of the Marines and Sailor, and raise the AAV.

3 August In total, 16 personnel were aboard the AAV when they reported taking on water while conducting shore-to-ship operations training in the vicinity of San Clemente Island off the coast of Southern California. Five Marines were rescued and brought aboard. Two more remain in hospital. 9 died.

Lance Cpl. Guillermo S. Perez, 20, of New Braunfels, Texas, was pronounced dead at the scene before being transported by helicopter to @scrippshealth in San Diego. He was a rifleman with Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 1/4, 15th MEU. (2/9)

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, California, a rifleman with Bravo Company, BLT 1/4, 15th MEU. (6/9)

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. (5/9)

Pfc. Evan A. Bath, 19, of Oak Creek, Wisconsin, a rifleman with Bravo Company, BLT 1/4, 15th MEU. @USNavy Hospitalman Christopher Gnem, 22, of Stockton, California, a hospital corpsman with Bravo Company, BLT 1/4, 15th MEU. (4/9)

Pfc. Bryan J. Baltierra, 19, of Corona, California, 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. (3/9)

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif — 

After an extensive 40-hour search, the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. I Marine Expeditionary force. and the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group concluded their search and rescue operation for seven missing Marines and one Sailor, today.

All eight service members are presumed deceased. The 15th MEU and the ARG leadership determined that there was little probability of a successful rescue given the circumstances of the incident. 

On July 30, 15 Marines and one Sailor were participating in a routine training exercise off the coast of San Clemente Island, California, when the amphibious assault vehicle they were riding in, began to take on water and sank. Of the 16 service members, eight Marines were rescued, one died and two others are in critical condition at a local hospital.

“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.” 

Over the course of the at-sea search, Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard helicopter, ships and watercraft searched more than I,000 square nautical miles. 

Assisting in the search efforts were the USS John Finn. the USS Makin Island, the USS Somerset, and the USS San Diego. Eleven U.S. Navy SH-60 helicopters and multiple Navy and Manne Corps small boats were also involved. The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Forrest Rednour and a Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Sector San Diego assisted as well 

31 July 1 Marine has died, 8 service members remain missing and 2 were injured after an AAV mishap July 30 off the coast of Southern California. All are assigned to the 15th MEU. Search and rescue efforts are still underway with support from the Navy and Coast Guard. Marines.mil reporting

The 15th MEU is conducting around the clock search & rescue operations for our 8 Marines with support from all available agencies to include @theNavy and @USCoastGuard. Updates will be posted here when available. #15thmeurecovery

“We are deeply saddened by this tragic incident. I ask that you keep our Marines, Sailors, and their families in your prayers as we continue our search,” said Col. Christopher Bronzi, 15th MEU Commanding Officer.

15th Marine Expeditionary Unit

America’s Vanguard Force

Camp Pendleton, CA

The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) provides a forward deployed, flexible sea-based Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) capable of conducting Amphibious Operations, crisis response and limited contingency operations, to include enabling the introduction of follow-on forces, and, designated special operations, in order to support the theater requirements of Geographic Combatant Commanders (GCC).