A U.S. Marine who vanished during training exercises aboard the USS Anchorage has become the focus of a large-scale recovery operation in Southern California waters. The incident occurred during integrated training involving the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit and the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group.
Initial search efforts launched Thursday shifted to a formal recovery mission by Friday. Military personnel deployed three surface vessels and 12 aircraft—drawn from the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Air Force—to cover approximately 2,400 square miles of ocean. Officials confirmed the operation prioritizes locating the missing service member following standard safety protocols.
The Navy issued a statement expressing condolences to the individual’s family, noting the Marine’s identity would remain undisclosed pending next-of-kin notification. The USS Anchorage, an amphibious transport dock ship homeported in San Diego, continues to support the operation while maintaining routine duties.
This marks the second major missing-persons incident involving U.S. military personnel in six weeks. In May, remains of a second American soldier lost during training in Morocco were recovered after an international search effort. The recent developments underscore ongoing challenges in military training safety and emergency response coordination.
