Additional Coverage:
Search Shifts to Recovery After Marine Missing from USS Anchorage During Training off Southern California
Efforts to locate a Marine who went missing from the USS Anchorage during integrated training exercises off the Southern California coast have transitioned to a recovery mission, Navy officials confirmed.
The Marine was aboard the amphibious transport dock ship as part of training operations involving the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, based at Camp Pendleton, alongside the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group.
The search commenced Thursday and expanded into a search and recovery operation by Friday, utilizing three surface vessels and 12 aircraft from the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Air Force. The operation spanned approximately 2,400 square miles.
In a statement, the Navy extended its sympathies, saying, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and all who are affected during this difficult time.” The Marine’s identity has been withheld pending family notification.
The USS Anchorage is homeported at Naval Base San Diego. This incident marks at least the second recent occurrence of missing service members prompting extensive search efforts within a six-week period.
In a related case from earlier this year, the remains of a U.S. Army soldier who went missing during military exercises in Morocco were recovered in May, concluding a multinational search operation that employed air, naval, and artificial intelligence resources.
The ongoing recovery operation underscores the challenges and risks inherent in military training exercises and the commitment of the armed forces to account for all service members.