The II Marine Expeditionary Force has announced the names of the seven Marines from the 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division who were killed Monday night in a training accident at Hawthorne Army Depot in Nevada.
The youngest Marine who lost his life was Private First Class Joshua M. Martino, 19, a native of Dubois, Pennsylvania. His mother, Karen Perry, told the Associated Press her son joined the Marines last July. But he had wanted to be a Marine since he was a kid:
"Since he was probably 8 years old he wanted to be a Marine. That's all he wanted to do."
Perry was engaged to be married, and had hoped to marry his fiancee before his scheduled deployed to Afghanistan.
Fallen Marine Lance Cpl. Roger W. Muchnick Jr., 23, was from Fairfield, Connecticut. He joined the Marine Corps in June 2010 and was promoted to his current rank in May 2011. His grandfather, Jerome Muchnick, told the Associated Press:
“He was a fabulous kid. Just fabulous. He was at the top of his game when this happened. ... You can’t imagine losing a very handsome, 23-year-old grandson who was vital and loving.”
Also killed on Monday night were:
-Lance Cpl. David P. Fenn II, 20, of Polk City, Florida. He joined the Marine Corps in June 2010 and was promoted to his current rank in March 2011.
-Lance Cpl. Joshua C. Taylor, 21, of Marietta, Ohio. He joined the Marine Corps in June 2010 and was promoted to his current rank in August 2011.
-Lance Cpl. Mason J. Vanderwork, 21, of Hickory, North Carolina. He joined the Marine Corps in June 2010 and was promoted to his current rank in August 2011.
-Lance Cpl. William T. Wild IV, 21, of Anne Arundel, Maryland. He joined the Marine Corps in October 2010 and was promoted to his current rank in December 2011.
-Corporal Aaron J. Ripperda, 26, of Madison, Illinois. He joined the Marine Corps in September 2008 and was promoted to his current rank in April 2011.
North Carolina television station WNCT-TV profiled each of the young Marines who lost their lives. That video is posted below.
