3 Missing Marines In Australia

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

A Hispanic man who had just turned 19 years old is one of the victims of an accident that occurred this Saturday off the coast of Australia in which 3 marines disappeared.

This was confirmed by the United States Marine Corps through a statement issued from the Camp Butler naval base on the Japanese island of Okinawa.

Lieutenant Rubén Velasco, originally from Los Angeles, died along with pilot Benjamin Cross, 26; and Lt. Nathaniel Ordway, 21, despite "extensive search and rescue efforts to locate them," it was reported.

The incident occurred about 18 miles from Shoalwater Bay, in Queensland, when the Marines attempted to land an aircraft on a naval ship. "The ship involved had taken off from the [amphibious ship] USS Bonhomme Richard and was conducting regular operations when it entered the water," the document said.

Although the identities of the victims were confirmed, the remains of the marines were not recovered, Lt. Christina Metzler, spokeswoman for the Marine Expeditions Unit, confirmed to CNN.