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CAMP SCHWAB, OKINAWA, Japan – On July 18, 2025, at approximately 6:30 p.m., four Marines encountered a strong current while swimming at Recon Beach on Camp Schwab, Okinawa.
One Marine successfully returned to shore approximately one hour later and immediately reported the incident.
3d Reconnaissance Battalion, based at Camp Schwab, Okinawa, quickly activated to conduct a rapid recovery.
“I thought it was going to be a normal day,” said Sgt. Tyson Carpenter, a reconnaissance Marine with 3d Recon. Bn. “We got the call to get down to Recon Beach as soon as we possibly could and get our combat rubber reconnaissance crafts in the water. This is what we train for, and I can’t think of any better reason to apply my training than to save Marines.”
The recon Marines deployed via the CRRCs to locate and recover the distressed Marines.
“We left as fast as I have ever seen us assemble and leave that beach,” said Sgt. Zackary Petty, a reconnaissance Marine with 3d Recon. Bn. “At that point in time, nothing mattered more to me than finding these Marines and getting them home.”
Supporting the effort were Marines with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, currently forward deployed with 4th Marine Regiment, 3d Marine Division as part of the Unit Deployment Program. They provided aerial coverage using small, unmanned aircraft systems, to help locate the Marines in the water and relay that location to the recon Marines in the CRRCs.
The Marines were found one mile southeast of Camp Schwab before they were rescued.
“We finally found them,” said Petty. “One was still in the water and unable to physically get on the boat, so we had our guys jump in the water and pull him out. Another one was treading water maybe 50 feet away from him. The last one was on a small island laying down from exhaustion.”
Local Japanese contractors assisted in coordinating the emergency services’ response which was awaiting the Marines’ return to Recon Beach.
Corpsmen with 3d Recon. Bn. conducted initial medical assessments on-site. One of the corpsmen, Petty Officer 1st Class Max Monlux, confirmed that all three Marines were uninjured, and he provided them water before they were transported to U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa for further evaluation. No injuries were reported.
While this incident resulted in a successful rescue, the waters surrounding Okinawa can present significant hazards. Since 2000, 42 U.S. servicemembers have died in water-related incidents on Okinawa, Guam, and Hawaii. Fatal mishaps can be prevented. Before enjoying Okinawa’s beautiful beaches, please check the sea conditions at https://www.kadena.af.mil/Agencies/Local-Weather/ or download the Liberty MCCS Okinawa app for on-the-go updates.
| Date Taken: | 08.07.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 08.07.2025 18:48 |
| Story ID: | 544985 |
| Location: | OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 18 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Marines from 3d Reconnaissance Battalion Save Marines Swept Out by Current, by Cpl Adam Trump, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
