b'REMAINS OF MISSING MARINES, SAILORGnem was posthumously advanced to the rank of petty SUCCESSFULLY RECOVERED officer third class and posthumously awarded his enlisted 8 August, 2020Fleet Marine Force Warfare Specialist qualification, having By 1st Lt. Brian Tuthill I Marine Expeditionary Force met the criteria set by the Navy for both before his death.Ostrovsky was posthumously advanced to the rank of lance The remains of seven Marines and a Sailor were success- corporal, having met the criteria set by the Marine Corps fully recovered August 7, after underwater salvage opera- before his death.tions following the July 30 mishap involving an amphibious.I remain confident that the days ahead are shot through assault vehicle off the coast of San Clemente Island. with hopehope because men like them had the courage, the The recovered Marines and Sailor will soon be transferredfortitude, and the commitment to train for and dedicate their to Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, for preparation by mortu- lives in defense of this great nation.ary affairs teams for burial. Marine and Navy pallbearers willCol. Christopher J. Bronzi, 15th MEUs commanding officerplace the remains aboard an aircraft bound for Dover AFB inMany Marines and Sailors took the opportunity to meet a solemn transfer. From Dover AFB, their remains will then bethe families of their fallen brothers and offer condolences released to their families in accordance with their wishes. prior to the start of the ceremony.The transfer of remains will not be open to the public, andA row of battlefield crosses and portraits of eachwe ask that the privacy of the families be respected as theyMarine and Sailor were displayed at the outdoor event.make final arrangements for their loved ones. Col. Christopher J. Bronzi, commanding officer of theOur hearts and thoughts of the 15th Marine Expeditionary15th MEU provided opening remarks.Unit are with the families of our recovered Marines andI think youll have an opportunity this morning toSailor, said Col. Christopher Bronzi, commanding officer ofinteract with and meet some of the men and women that the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. We hope the successfulknew your husbands, sons, fathers, and brothers betterrecovery of our fallen warriors brings some measure of comfort. than anyone, other than yourselves, said Bronzi. As we The U.S. Navy has led the underwater search and salvageexperience this deep sadness at the loss of our brothers,efforts. Specialized equipment on a diving and salvage shipI remain confident that the days ahead are shot throughto recover the remains and AAV arrived August 6 to relievewith hopehope because men like them had the courage, the crew of HOS Dominator, who stayed in position afterthe fortitude, and the commitment to train for and dedicate locating the site. their lives in defense of this great nation.Lance Cpl. Guillermo S. Perez, 19, of New Braunfels, Texas,This was followed by an invocation from Navy Lt. Samuel also died in the AAV mishap and was pronounced dead atCho, BLT 1/4 chaplain, and the national anthem played bythe scene July 30. His remains were transferred August 5 tothe 1st Marine Division Band.Lt. Col. Michael J. Regner, commanding officer ofDover AFB. BLT 1/4, addressed attendees.The sunken AAV has been successfully recovered. TheAs our fallen hail from across this country and repre-cause of the July 30 incident is under investigation. sent whats finest about it, this truly is a national loss, said Regner. Our fallen brothers honor us by the manner with BATTALION LANDING TEAM 1/4 HONORSwhich they lived their lives, and we will never forget the last MARINES, SAILOR AT MEMORIAL SERVICE time we saw themand now we remember them as they 24 August, 2020slip their earthly bonds, to give us overwatch from on high By 1st Lt. Pedro Caballero 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit with God.Service members and families gathered on the morningThe service concluded with 1st Sgt. Daniel Jacobsonof Aug. 21 to pay tribute to nine fallen service members ofof Bravo Company, BLT 1/4 conducting the final roll call,Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/4, 15th Marinea military ritual which pays tribute to fallen members of a unit by calling their names in formation for the last time in Expeditionary Unit. the Marine Corps to signify their absence, followed by the The memorial was held at Marine Corps Base Campfiring of a three-volley salute and the playing of Taps.Pendletons Camp Horno area to honor eight Marines and aThe Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. David H. Sailor from the 15th MEU who died in an assault amphibiousBerger and Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Troy E. Black; vehicle mishap July 30: Lt. Gen. Karsten S. Heckl, commanding general, I Marine K Pfc. Bryan J. Baltierra, 18, of Corona, California Expeditionary Force; Maj. Gen. Robert F. Castellvi,K Lance Cpl. Marco A. Barranco, 21, of Montebello, California commanding general, 1st Marine Division; and Rear Adm. K Pfc. Evan A. Bath, 19, of Oak Creek, Wisconsin Gregory N. Todd, Chaplain of the United States Marine Corps.K Navy Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class (Fleet Marine Force) Final funeral arrangements for each Marine and Sailor willChristopher Gnem, 22, of Stockton, California be made individually by their families. HK Lance Cpl. Jack-Ryan Ostrovsky, 20, of Bend, Oregon As requested by the relatives of the fallen soldiers their K Lance Cpl. Guillermo S. Perez, 19, of New Braunfels, Texas pictures will not be published.K Cpl. Wesley A. Rodd, 22, of Harris, Texas www.marines.mil/News/Press-Releases/Press-Release-Display/Article/2297116/amphibious-assault-vehicle-mishap/K Lance Cpl. Chase D. Sweetwood, 18, of Portland, Oregon www.marines.mil/News/Press-Releases/Press-Release-Display/Article/2297135/search-and-rescue-for-missing-service-members-concludes/ www.marines.mil/News/News-Display/Article/2305959/remains-of-missing-marines-sailor-successfully-recovered/K Cpl. Cesar A. Villanueva, 21, of Riverside, California www.marines.mil/News/News-Display/Article/2322029/battalion-landing-team-14-honors-marines-sailor-at-memorial-service/Thank You For Your Service HOctober 2020 H Military Appreciation Resource Magazine 19'