b'Photo by Sgt. Logan BlockAMPHIBIOUS ASSAULTMakin Island Amphibious Ready Group concluded their search and rescue operation for seven missing Marines and VEHICLE MISHAP one Sailor, today.1 August, 2020 All eight service members are presumed deceased. The 15th MEU and the ARG leadership determined that thereMARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. Onewas little probability of a successful rescue given theMarine with 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), I Marinecircumstances of the incident. Expeditionary Force, was pronounced dead at ScrippsOn July 30, 15 Marines and one Sailor were participating Memorial Hospital La Jolla following an amphibious assaultin a routine training exercise off the coast of San Clemente vehicle (AAV) mishap off the coast of Southern California onIsland, California, when the amphibious assault vehicle they July 30, 2020. were riding in, began to take on water and sank. Of the 16 Two Marines were transported to local hospitals, whereservice members, eight Marines were rescued, one died and one was listed in critical condition and the other in stabletwo others are in critical condition at a local hospital.condition. It is with a heavy heart, that I decided to conclude the Fifteen Marines and one Sailor were inside the AAV at thesearch and rescue effort, said Col. Christopher Bronzi, 15th time of the incident, eight of whom have been recovered. MEU Commanding Officer. The steadfast dedication of the The name of the deceased will be withheld until 24 hoursMarines, Sailors, and Coast Guardsmen to the persistent after next of kin have been notified. rescue effort was tremendous. We are deeply saddened by this tragic incident. I askOver the course of the at-sea search, Marine Corps, Navy, that you keep our Marines, Sailors, and their families in yourand Coast Guard helicopter, ships and watercraft searched prayers as we continue our search, said Col. Christophermore than I,000 square nautical miles. Bronzi, 15th MEU Commanding Officer. Assisting in the search efforts were the USS John Finn. the Search and rescue efforts are ongoing to recover theUSS Makin Island, the USS Somerset, and the USS San Diego. remaining eight service members. Assisting in the searchEleven U.S. Navy SH-60 helicopters and multiple Navy and efforts are USS John Finn, three U.S. Navy MH-60 helicop- Marine Corps small boats were also involved. The U.S. Coast ters and multiple small boats from USS Makin Island, USSGuard Cutter Forrest Rednour and a Coast Guard MH-60 Somerset, and USS San Diego, as well as the U.S. CoastJayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Sector San Diego Guard Cutter Forrest Rednour and a Coast Guard MH-60assisted as well Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Sector San Diego. Our thoughts and prayers have been, and will continue to At approximately 5:45 p.m. PST, Marines in the AAVbe with our Marines and Sailors families during this difficult reported taking on water. time, said Bronzi. As we turn to recovery operations we will The incident occurred during a 15th MEU and Makin Islandcontinue our exhaustive search for our missing Marines and Amphibious Ready Group routine training exercise in theSailor. vicinity of San Clemente Island. Efforts will now turn to finding and recovering the Marines The incident is under investigation. and Sailor still missing. Assisting in the recovery efforts is the SEARCH AND RESCUE FOR MISSINGoffshore supply vessel HOS Dominator, as well as Undersea SERVICE MEMBERS CONCLUDES Rescue Command, utilizing their Remotely Operated Vehicle 2 August, 2020 to survey the sea floor. The circumstances surrounding the incident are being After an extensive 40-hour search, the 15th Marineinvestigated. The names of the Marines and Sailor will be Expeditionary Unit, I Marine Expeditionary Force, and thereleased 24-hours after next of kin notification.18 Military Appreciation Resource Magazine HOctober 2020 H Thank You For Your Service'