Military officials on Sunday have released the names of the service members involved with a deadly amphibious assault vehicle training accident off the coast of San Diego last week.
A total of 16 service members were involved in the AAV accident on July 30, after the vehicle started taking on water while conducting shore-to-ship waterborne operations near San Clemente Island. Five service members were rescued and have since returned to their assigned ships.
15th Marine Expeditionary Unit officials said eight missing service members are presumed dead after the accident:
- Pfc. Bryan J. Baltierra, 19, of Corona, California, a rifleman with Bravo Company
- Lance Cpl. Marco A. Barranco, 21, of Montebello, California, a rifleman with Bravo Company
- Pfc. Evan A. Bath, 19, of Oak Creek, Wisconsin, a rifleman with Bravo Company
- U.S. Navy Hospitalman Christopher Gnem, 22, of Stockton, California, a hospital corpsman with Bravo Company
- Pfc. Jack Ryan Ostrovsky, 21, of Bend, Oregon, a rifleman with Bravo Company
- Cpl. Wesley A. Rodd, 23, of Harris, Texas, a rifleman with Bravo Company
- Lance Cpl. Chase D. Sweetwood, 19, of Portland, Oregon, a rifleman with Bravo Company
- Cpl. Cesar A. Villanueva, 21, of Riverside, California, a rifleman with Bravo Company
Officials added Lance Cpl. Guillermo S. Perez, 20, of New Braunfels, Texas, was pronounced dead at the scene before being transported by helicopter to Scripps Memorial Hospital in San Diego. He was a rifleman with Bravo Company.
Two service members were injured following the accident, including a Marine rifleman and a Marine assault amphibious vehicle crewmember with Mechanized Company. Both Marines were taken to Scripps Memorial Hospital in critical condition. The second Marine has since been upgraded to stable condition, officials said.
(Photo credit Getty Images)