PICTURED: Three teens are among nine troops who died when in amphibious ship sinking accident

Three teenagers are among the nine service members who died after their amphibious assault vehicle sank in deep water during a training exercise off the coast of Southern California last week.

Only one of the nine victims’ bodies was found, despite an intense days-long search that covered 1,000 nautical miles and involved helicopters and a Navy destroyer, the US Marine Corps said.

Lance Cpl. Guillermo S. Perez, 20, of Texas, was found dead close to the scene near San Clemente Island where the vehicle sank at around 5:45pm on Thursday.

The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit announced on Sunday that the others, from California, Texas, Wisconsin and Oregon, are all ‘presumed dead.’

Privates Bryan J. Baltierra, 18, of California, Evan Bath, 19, of Wisconsin, and Lance Corporal Chase D. Sweetwood, 19, of Oregon have been identified as the youngest of the victims.

Their fellow Marines Lance Cpl. Marco A. Barranco, 21, of California, Pfc. Jack Ryan Ostrovsky, 21, of Oregon, Cpl. Wesley A. Rodd, 23, of Texas, and Cpl. Cesar A. Villanueva, 21, of California, are also presumed dead.

One sailor, US Navy Hospitalman Christopher Gnem, 22, of California, is also believed to have died.

Only one of the victim’s bodies was recovered: Lance Cpl. Guillermo S. Perez, 20, of Texas, who was pronounced dead at the scene

Pfc. Jack Ryan Ostrovsky, 21

Cesar A. Villanueva, 21, of California

Pfc. Jack Ryan Ostrovsky, 21, of Oregon (left) and Cpl. Cesar A. Villanueva, 21, of California (right), are also presumed dead

The oldest fataliof the incident was revealed to be 23-year-old

The oldest victim of the incident was revealed to be 23-year-old Cpl. Wesley Rodd of Texas. He recently became a father, family members revealed

Lance Cpl. Marco A. Barranco, 21

One sailor, US Navy Hospitalman Christopher Gnem, 22, of California, is also believed to have died

Victim Lance Cpl. Marco A. Barranco, 21, is shown left. One sailor, US Navy Hospitalman Christopher Gnem, 22, of California (right), is also believed to have died

‘Literally every asset we have available’ was mobilized in the search for seven Marines and a Navy corpsman, Lt. Gen. Joseph Osterman, commander of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, said Friday.

They were among a crew of 16 aboard an amphibious assault vehicle that was heading back to a Navy ship Thursday evening after a routine training exercise when it began taking on water about a half-mile from Navy-owned San Clemente Island, near San Diego.

Other assault vehicles quickly responded but couldn’t stop the 26-ton, tank-like vehicle from quickly sinking, Osterman said.

It’s believed the vehicle sank some 600-feet – all the way to the bottom of the ocean floor.

That was too deep for divers, and Navy and Coast Guard were discussing ways to reach the sunken vehicle to get a view inside it, Osterman said.

The oldest victim, 23-year-old Corporal Rodd, recently became a father, family members told Stars and Stripes.

Lance Corporal Chase Sweetwood turned 19 during the search. His birthday was on Friday, the day after the accident that would take his life, family members said on GoFundMe.

‘Chase was one of the good ones in this life, and he was taken far too soon,’ his aunt Niki Stockdale wrote.

Baltierra was also just 18 at the time of his death, though the Marine Corps initially listed him as older. His family say they were notified of his death during a home visit on Saturday.

‘My family and I pray for the other victims and families involved in this horrific accident,’ wrote his sister, Natalie Baltierra. ‘With all our hearts, we love you, Bryan, and you will always be here with us.’

Search and rescue efforts were underway with support from the Navy and Coast Guard following the Assault Amphibious Vehicle accident. The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit is seen during training on Monday

Search and rescue efforts were underway with support from the Navy and Coast Guard following the Assault Amphibious Vehicle accident. The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit is seen during training on Monday

The vehicle took on water at around 5.45pm while 15 Marines and one sailor were inside near San Clemente Island in Los Angeles County. The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit is seen during training on Monday

The vehicle took on water at around 5.45pm while 15 Marines and one sailor were inside near San Clemente Island in Los Angeles County. The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit is seen during training on Monday

Rifleman Wesley Rodd is pictured holding his newborn son with partner just weeks before his death

Rifleman Wesley Rodd is pictured holding his newborn son with partner just weeks before his death

Lance Corporal Chase Sweetwood turned 19 during the search. His birthday was on Friday, the day after the accident that would take his life, family members said on GoFundMe.

Sweetwood shown above in uniform

Lance Corporal Chase Sweetwood turned 19 during the search. His birthday was on Friday, the day after the accident that would take his life, family members said on GoFundMe

Seaman Gnem, meanwhile, was planning to get married next year, his girlfriend revealed.

‘I lost the love of my life. The most purest and sweetest soul I’ve ever met. My absolute best friend in the whole world and my reason to live,’ Gnem’s girlfriend Savannah Henne wrote to Facebook, calling him her ‘soul mate’.

Seven other Marines were rescued from the water; two were in critical condition at a hospital after sustaining unspecified injuries, authorities said.

One of the injured survivors was identified on GoFundMe as Dallas Truxal, 22, of Indiana. In a Sunday update, his aunt, Catrina Parsons-Tomamichel wrote that he was now in a stable condition and ‘alert and asking when he can get back to work.’

All the Marines were attached to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, based at nearby Camp Pendleton. They were all wearing combat gear, including body armor, and flotation vests, according to Osterman.

The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit tweeted early Sunday that the rescue operation had become a recovery mission, following a 40-hour search that yielded no signs of life.

‘Keep our 15thMEU families in your thoughts and prayers,’ the Marines said on Twitter.

‘I know all of us in the USMC family are extremely saddened following the announcement of the end of SAR operations,’ added General David H. Berger, 38th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps in comments he tweeted following the announcement.

‘This difficult decision was made after all resources were exhausted.’

Baltierra was also just 18 at the time of his death, though the Marine Corps initially listed him as older. His family say they were notified of his death during a home visit on Saturday

Baltierra was also just 18 at the time of his death, though the Marine Corps initially listed him as older. His family say they were notified of his death during a home visit on Saturday

Seaman Gnem, meanwhile, was planning to get married next year, his girlfriend Savannah Henne (right)  revealed

Seaman Gnem, meanwhile, was planning to get married next year, his girlfriend Savannah Henne (right)  revealed

Lance Cpl. Guillermo S. Perez has been remembered by friends on social media, who say his presence will be 'sorely missed'

Lance Cpl. Guillermo S. Perez has been remembered by friends on social media, who say his presence will be ‘sorely missed’

The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit tweeted early Sunday that the rescue operation was now a recovery mission after 40 hours of searching. A helicopter is pictured during the search

The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit tweeted early Sunday that the rescue operation was now a recovery mission after 40 hours of searching. A helicopter is pictured during the search

General David H. Berger, 38th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, tweeted it was a 'difficult decision' to call off the search for the missing service members

General David H. Berger, 38th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, tweeted it was a ‘difficult decision’ to call off the search for the missing service members

One of the injured survivors was identified on GoFundMe as Dallas Truxal, 22, of Indiana. In a Sunday update, his aunt, Catrina Parsons-Tomamichel wrote that he was now in a stable condition and ‘alert and asking when he can get back to work.’

Dallas Truxul shown in hospital

Survivor: One of the injured survivors was identified on GoFundMe as Dallas Truxal, 22, of Indiana. In a Sunday update, his aunt, Catrina Parsons-Tomamichel wrote that he was now in a stable condition and ‘alert and asking when he can get back to work.’

The vehicle, known as an AAV but nicknamed an ‘amtrac,’ for ‘amphibious tractor’ is used to take Marines and their gear from Navy ships to land.

The sunken craft, one of 13 involved in the exercise, was designed to be naturally buoyant and had three water-tight hatches and two large troop hatches

The vehicles have been used since 1972, and continually refurbished. Marine Corps officials said Friday they did not know the age or other details of the one that sank.

The Marine Corps commandant, Gen. David Berger, suspended waterborne operations of more than 800 amphibious assault vehicles across the branch until the cause of the accident is determined.

This is the third time in recent years that Camp Pendleton Marines have been injured or died in amphibious assault vehicles during training exercises.

In 2017, 14 Marines and one Navy sailor were hospitalized after their vehicle hit a natural gas line, igniting a fire that engulfed the landing craft at Camp Pendleton.

In 2011, a Marine died when an amphibious assault vehicle in a training exercise sank offshore of the camp.

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