Two California Marines who were killed during military exercise in New Mexico are identified

Two California Marines, including 1 from Southern California, who died aft an mishap successful New Mexico connected Tuesday portion supporting Border Patrol units were identified Thursday by their division.

The Camp Pendleton-based Marine Corps’ 1st Marine Division identified the 2 deceased servicemen arsenic Riverside autochthonal Lance Cpl. Albert A. Aguilera and Lance Cpl. Marcelino M. Gamino of Fresno.

A 3rd Marine was injured but survived the accident.

The 3 Marines were progressive successful a clang during a convoy question adjacent Santa Teresa, N.M., connected Tuesday, though their nonstop activities, the grade of injuries for the 3rd Marine, the causes of decease and a timeline of events were not disclosed by the military. The deaths were reportedly the archetypal since thousands much active-duty troops were dispatched to the U.S.-Mexico border arsenic portion of President Trump’s effort to clamp down connected amerciable immigration.

The Washington Post reported that the deaths were the effect of a conveyance rollover.

“The nonaccomplishment of Lance Cpl. Aguilera and Lance Cpl. Gamino is profoundly felt by each of us,” Lt. Col. Tyrone A. Barrion said successful a statement. “I widen my heartfelt condolences and prayers to the families of our fallen brothers.”

Following the crash, the Marines were transported to University Medical Hospital successful El Paso, wherever the 2 Californians were pronounced dead.

The 3rd Marine remains successful captious condition

The clang is nether investigation.

“Our apical precedence close present is to guarantee that their families, and the Marines affected by their passing, are afloat supported during this hard time,” Barrion said.

Aguilera, 22, enlisted successful March 2023 and was promoted to lance corporal successful May 2024, according to the Marine 1st Division.

Gamino, 28, was a decorated Marine combat technologist with the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division. He enlisted successful May 2022 and was promoted to lance corporal successful August 2024. He earned the National Defense Service Medal and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, according to the Marine 1st Division.

The Marines were successful New Mexico supporting Joint Task Force-Southern Border operations. The stated purpose of the task force, created successful March, is to assistance the U.S. Customs and Border Protection successful monitoring the borderline betwixt the United States and Mexico.

The task force’s halfway mission, arsenic described by U.S. Northern Command, is to observe and show transnational transgression organizations’ threats to the nation.

The task unit was created soon aft Trump issued an enforcement bid Jan. 20 calling for a crackdown connected amerciable entries crossed the border.