The seven Marines that were killed during a live-fire training exercise at Hawthorne Army Depot in Nevada at about 10 p.m. on Monday, March 18, 2013 were between the ages of 19 and 26. The Marine Corps released each fallen Marine’s name, along with photos on March 20.
Seven Fallen Marines
Private First Class Joshua M. Martino, 19, of Clearfield, Pa., served as a mortarman assigned to First Battalion, Ninth Marine Regiment.
Martino graduated from high school in 2012. He played football and ran track and field, winning several races in 2012.
He was engaged and planned to get married at the end of 2013.
“He talked about the Marines his whole life. It was always what he wanted to do. He died a hero, that’s for sure,” said longtime friend, Adam Popson, reports WJACTV.com in Pennsylvania.
Popson said he looked up to Martino, and Martino should be remembered as an idol. “He helped me with a lot of tough problems in my life. He was just a great kid,” Popson said.
Martino joined the Marine Corps in July 2012. His awards include the National Defense Service Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
Lance Corporal Roger W. Muchnick Jr., 23, of Fairfield, Conn., was a mortarman assigned to First Battalion, Ninth Marine Regiment.
Muchnick played football and lacrosse in high school and university. His former university lacrosse coach, Justin Axel, said Muchnick was one of the most charismatic kids he has coached.
“He was always smiling. He just kept the team very light,” Axel said, according to WTNH.com in Connecticut.
Muchnick studied business at Eastern Connecticut State University before enlisting with the Marines in June 2010. Axel said he was an extremely likeable kid and very unselfish.
Muchnick was promoted to his current rank in the Marines in May 2011.
Muchnick’s awards include the Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and NATO Medal-ISAF Afghanistan. He was most recently deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2011.
Lance Corporal Joshua C. Taylor, 21, of Marietta, Ohio, was a mortarman assigned to First Battalion, Ninth Marine Regiment.
Teachers and classmates said Taylor was well-known, well-liked, and overall a special person.
He joined the Marine Corps in June 2010 and was promoted to his current rank in August 2011.
His high school principal, Bill Lee, told WTAP news, that he remembers when Taylor visited after basic training. “He came back in his dress uniform, and he was so very proud. He visited with some of his teachers, and me, and some of the students who knew him. And we were all very proud of Josh,” Lee said.
Josh had planned to get married in the spring. He had three sisters and a brother.
Taylor’s awards include the Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and NATO Medal-ISAF Afghanistan. He was most recently deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2011.
Lance Corporal Mason J. Vanderwork, 21, of Hickory, N.C., was a mortarman assigned to First Battalion, Ninth Marine Regiment.
“I worried about him a little when he was overseas, but I never thought I would have to worry about him at home,” Melissa Vanderwork, his mother, said to WBTV in Hickory. “I was proud of my son, very proud.”
“He was my life, my world, my best friend, my hero,” she said.
He joined the Marine Corps in June 2010 and was promoted to his current rank in August 2011.
Vanderwork’s awards include the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and NATO Medal-ISAF Afghanistan. He was most recently deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2011.
Lance corporal William T. Wild IV, 21, of Anne Arundel, Md., was a mortarman assigned to First Battalion, Ninth Marine Regiment.
Wild told his parents in his high school senior year that he was going into the Marines, that he was going to fight, and that college would have to wait, Bill Wild, his father, told WMAR.
Wild spoke with his mother and father daily over the telephone. The last thing he said to his father was that he would have liberty at Easter.
“It doesn’t matter what went wrong, I just wish I was on the wrong end of a bad dream,” his father said.
He joined the Marine Corps in October 2010 and was promoted to his current rank in December 2011.
Wild’s awards include the Combat Action Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and NATO Medal-ISAF Afghanistan. He was most recently deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2011.
