A memorial service was held at Camp Pendleton this morning for Staff Sgt. Mathew R. Marsh of Long Beach and three others killed in an explosion at the base eight mornings before.
Marsh, Gunnery Sgt. Gregory J. Mullins, Staff Sgt. Eric W. Summers and Sgt. Miguel Ortiz perished in the blast while disposing of unexploded ordinance on the Zulu range around 11 a.m. Nov. 13.
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The cause of the accident is still under investigation, according to the base commander's office.
Among those attending today's 10 a.m. service in the Base Theatre were families of the Marines, senior base leadership and the Commandant and First Lady of the Marine Corps, General James F. Amos and his wife, Bonnie Amos. Both met with each of the families before the ceremony.
“Today, we pause for a moment to remember our fallen comrades: their lives, service and sacrifice,” said Brig. Gen. John W. Bullard, commanding general at Camp Pendleton, to attendees. “We, their Marine family, mourn alongside their loved ones. We will always remember their commitment and devotion to duty.”
Besides eulogies and readings from scripture, the ceremony included a final roll call, three volley rifle salute and the playing of “Amazing Grace” and, of course, “Taps.”
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OC Weekly Editor-in-Chief Matt Coker has been engaging, enraging and entertaining readers of newspapers, magazines and websites for decades. He spent the first 13 years of his career in journalism at daily newspapers before “graduating” to OC Weekly in 1995 as the alternative newsweekly’s first calendar editor.