US | Marines Sunken Military Vehicle, Human Remains Found 9 service members died when amphibious assault vehicle sank off California coast By Newser Editors Posted Aug 5, 2020 9:06 AM CDT Copied This photo provided by the Navy shows a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) being lowered into the ocean off the coast of Southern California on Monday, Aug. 3, 2020. (Lt. Curtis Khol/U.S. Navy via AP) The military has found the sunken amphibious assault vehicle that sank off the coast of California in a training accident that took the lives of nine service members. The Navy located the vehicle in about 385 feet of water less than a mile from San Clemente Island off the coast of San Diego, reports CNN. A remotely operated vehicle located the AAV and detected human remains inside, per a tweet from the military. Next comes the effort to recover the 26-ton vehicle from the ocean floor, which could help the Pentagon understand what went wrong. Crew members reported taking on water during the "shore-to-ship" exercise in which eight Marines and one Navy sailor lost their lives, per NBC News. An AAV is like a "seafaring tank," explains the AP, and it's typically used to transport Marines and equipment from ships to shore. The vehicle is made to be buoyant with water-tight hatches. Stars and Stripes has details on the victims, one of whom just became a new father. Another just had his 19th birthday. Their identities: Pfc. Bryan J. Baltierra, 19, of Corona, Calif. Lance Cpl. Marco A. Barranco, 21, of Montebello, Calif. Pfc. Evan A. Bath, 19, of Oak Creek, Wis. US Navy Hospitalman Christopher Gnem, 22, of Stockton, Calif. Pfc. Jack Ryan Ostrovsky, 21, of Bend, Ore. Lance Cpl. Guillermo S. Perez, 20, of New Braunfels, Texas Cpl. Wesley A. Rodd, 23, of Harris, Texas Lance Cpl. Chase D. Sweetwood, 19, of Portland, Ore. Cpl. Cesar A. Villanueva, 21, of Riverside, Calif. Read These Next Rubio says the fate of Iran's conversion facility is what matters. Her blood isn't compatible with anyone else's. Some of the most explosive Diddy allegations are dropped. Sienna proves herself to be a very, very good dog. Report an error