Remains of 9 killed in California Marine sinking recovered

Authorities on Friday recovered bodies of nine people killed when a Marine landing craft sank in hundreds of feet of water off Sourn California coast, authorities said. remains of seven Marines and a Navy sailor were found after underwater salv operations that followed sinking on July 30. y will be flown to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to be prepared for burial by mortuary affairs teams, according to a statement Friday night from 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.

remains “will n be released to ir families in accordance with ir wishes,” statement said.

amphibious vehicle sank in 385 feet (117 meters) of water as it headed back to a Navy ship after completing routine training, military said. craft sank less than a mile from San Clemente Island off coast of San Diego. A diving and salv ship carrying special equipment arrived on Thursday and recovered bodies and vehicle, military said.

dead were identified earlier this week as: Pfc. Bryan J. Baltierra, 19, of Corona, California; Lance Cpl. Marco A. Barranco, 21, of Montebello, California; Pfc. Evan A. Bath, 19, of Oak Creek, Wisconsin; U.S. Navy Hospitalman Christopher Gnem, 22, of Stockton, California; Pfc. Jack Ryan Ostrovsky, 21, of Bend, Oregon; Cpl. Wesley A. Rodd, 23, of Harris, Texas; Lance Cpl. Chase D. Sweetwood, 19, of Portland, Oregon; and Cpl. Cesar A. Villanueva, 21, of Riverside, California.

Eight or people were rescued but one died at scene. He was identified as Marine Lance Cpl. Guillermo S. Perez, 19, of New Braunfels, Texas. His body was flown to Dover Air Force Base on Wednesday. All of Marines aboard were attached to 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit of 1 Marine Expeditionary Force, based at nearby Camp Pendleton, rth of San Diego.

“We hope successful recovery of our fallen warriors brings some measure of comfort” to ir families, said a statement from Col. Christopher Bronzi, commanding officer of 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

commandant of Marine Corps has suspended all waterborne operations of its more than 800 amphibious assault vehicles until cause of accident is determined.