Military finds human remains, sunken tank off California
SAN DIEGO – The Navy has located a seafaring tank that sank off the Southern California coast last week and was working to recover human remains, officials said Tuesday.
The Navy planned to place equipment near the amphibious assault vehicle that is under 385 feet of water by the end of the week to begin the recovery of the remains. After that process is complete, it will raise the amphibious vehicle.
Seven Marines and one Navy sailor were missing after the 26-ton landing craft sank Thursday. Another Marine was pronounced dead at the scene and seven others were rescued. Two remain hospitalized with injuries. The military ended rescue efforts on Sunday.
Among the missing is Pfc. Evan Bath, 19, who attended Oak Creek High School in Wisconsin.
The troops had completed routine training and were heading back to a Navy ship when the craft sank less than a mile from San Clemente Island off the coast of San Diego.
The U.S. Navy’s Undersea Rescue Command said the human remains were seen aboard the craft using remotely operated video systems from the merchant vessel HOS Dominator, a ship specializing in undersea search and rescue.
President Donald Trump expressed his condolences in a tweet Tuesday: “I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss of eight Marines and one Sailor during a training exercise off the coast of California. Our prayers are with their families.”
The commandant of the Marine Corps has suspended all waterborne operations of its more than 800 amphibious assault vehicles until the cause of the accident is determined.
All of the Marines aboard were attached to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, based at nearby Camp Pendleton, north of San Diego.