Multiple agencies are conducting a search in San Diego for a U.S. Marine who disappeared during a nighttime training exercise on Thursday from the USS Anchorage. The Navy has shifted its approach from search and rescue to recovery operations. The Marine’s identity remains undisclosed as the effort covers approximately 2,400 square miles using military ships and aircraft.
This marks the second major search for missing personnel by the U.S. military in six weeks, following deadly training accidents in Morocco where soldiers went missing. Search operations for the Marine began around 1:20 a.m. Thursday. After nearly two days, the search transitioned to recovery, involving the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Air Force, which deployed three surface ships and 12 aircraft.
The Marine was part of a training operation with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group when he went missing. The U.S. military’s recent search efforts also include recovering the remains of two Army soldiers who were off duty from military exercises in Morocco. The circumstances of the Marine’s disappearance remain undisclosed.
The Navy expressed, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and all who are affected during this difficult time.”
Alene Tchekmedyian, an investigative reporter at the Los Angeles Times, has been covering stories that focus on accountability, particularly within the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. She has a history of reporting on crime and law enforcement before joining the Times in 2016.
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