CAMP PENDLETON (CNS) - Military officials Thursday released the names of four Marine Corps ordnance-disposal technicians killed in an explosion at Camp Pendleton while sweeping an artillery range for undetonated munitions.
Killed about 11 a.m. Wednesday in the so-called Zulu Impact Area, near the center of the northern San Diego County USMC base, were Sgt. Miguel Ortiz, 27, of Vista; Staff Sgt. Mathew R. Marsh, 28, of Long Beach; Gunnery Sgt. Gregory J. Mullins, 31, of Bayou L'Ourse, La.; and Staff Sgt. Eric W. Summers, 32, of Poplar Bluff, Mo.
A Navy corpsman and two Marines injured in the blast were treated at the scene of the accident.
Ortiz joined the Marine Corps in March 2006, and was promoted to his current rank in November 2009. His awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, two Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal and NATO Medal-ISAF Afghanistan.
Ortiz was deployed to Iraq in 2007, the Western Pacific in 2008 and Afghanistan in 2012.
Marsh, who enlisted in July 2003, was promoted to his current rank in May 2009. His awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, three Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and NATO Medal-ISAF Afghanistan.
Marsh was deployed twice to Iraq in 2005 and 2008 and twice to Afghanistan in 2010 and 2012 as a team leader.
Mullins joined the Marine Corps in March 2002, and was promoted to his current rank in February. His awards include two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, Combat Action Ribbon, three Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and NATO Medal-ISAF Afghanistan. He deployed twice to Afghanistan in 2011 and 2012 as a team leader.
Summers joined the Marine Corps in July 2000, and was promoted to his current rank in October 2010. His awards include three Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, three Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and NATO Medal-ISAF Afghanistan.
Summers deployed to Kuwait in 2003, Iraq in 2004 and to Afghanistan in 2009, 2011 and 2012 as a team leader.
"Today, our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the Marines we lost yesterday," said Brig. Gen. John Bullard, commanding general of Marine Corps Installations West.
"Explosive-ordnance disposal is a small and tight-knit community -- not just in the Marine Corps, but in the entire U.S. military. Our focus now is on ensuring these families receive the help and support they need."
The Zulu impact area is used for firing explosive munitions such as grenades, mortars, artillery and rockets and for dropping munitions from aircraft. While live-fire training was ongoing at the adjacent Whiskey impact area, there was no live-fire training being conducted Wednesday in the Zulu area, according to Camp Pendleton officials.
