Commanding officer statement concerning Hawthorne incident

Photo By Lance Cpl. Kris Daberkoe | Corporal Aaron J. Ripperda, 26, of Madison, Ill., was an anti-tank missileman assigned to 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment. He joined the Marine Corps in September 2008 and was promoted to his current rank in April 2011. Ripperda's awards include the Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and NATO Medal-ISAF Afghanistan. He was most recently deployed in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in 2011.  

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, UNITED STATES

03.20.2013

Courtesy Story

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Seven Marines with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, were killed and eight others were injured, which includes a Navy Corpsman, in an explosion during a live-fire training exercise at Hawthorne Army Depot, Nev., shortly before 10 p.m. on Monday, March 18, 2013.

Provided is a statement from 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Andrew J. McNulty:

A great tragedy occurred to the Marine Corps and the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, family on March 18, 2013. We lost seven Marines in a training accident where it appears that a 60mm mortar system failed to function as designed. We also have seven Marines and one Sailor recovering from physical injuries as well as many more recovering from the events of that night. Our hearts, thoughts, and prayers go out to the families and friends of our fallen angels.

Currently, there are several teams of investigators already on site, working around the clock, to determine what happened so we can prevent it from happening again. We do not know what caused the mortar system failure.

We completed a Winter Mountain Exercise at Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, Calif., on March 11, 2013, and transitioned to live-fire training that started on March 13, 2013, at Hawthorne Army Depot, Nev. The Marines and Sailors of 1/9 performed superbly throughout the training at both locations. We expected to complete the exercise upon the conclusion of the night live fire training, which we were in the process of executing on that fateful evening.

The Marines' and Sailors' response to the incident to provide first aid for our injured was nothing short of heroic. There were numerous acts of selflessness as our injured cared for each other and directed corpsmen to care for more severely injured before being treated themselves. The Marines and Sailors on scene did everything possible to care for and save those affected by the mortar system malfunction.

The outpouring of support from the local community, the police and medical personnel who cared for our Marines and Sailors, other units throughout the Marine Corps, and the American public is truly humbling. Through their efforts, we are able to better assist the families of the fallen and injured.

It is through our actions that we honor and memorialize the fallen. Our efforts are now dedicated to caring for our injured, their family and friends, the families and friends of our fallen, and the Marines and Sailors of the battalion.

• Date Taken: 03.20.2013
• Date Posted: 03.20.2013 22:18
• Story ID: 103833
• Location: MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, US