‘This is a hard day': Charity reacts to Camp Pendleton Marines killed in crash
EL PASO, Texas — Two Marines are dead and another is in the hospital after a crash on a New Mexico highway Tuesday.
The Marine Corps confirms the Marines were with the First Marine Division, which is based out of Camp Pendleton.
They were deployed to the southern border as part of the Trump administration's crackdown at the border.
Since the end of January, Marines from Camp Pendleton have been deployed to the southern border from San Diego to Texas. Their mission was to back border patrol and complete tasks like installing concertina wire.
The Marine Corps hasn't released the names of the fallen service members, but the Gary Sinise Foundation told FOX 5/KUSI that they are ready to support their loved ones.
'The main thing is that they know they know that they are not forgotten. That they are appreciated and that this nation is grateful for their service,' said James Ravella, Gary Sinise Foundation.The deaths are the first associated with Trump's crackdown at the border that began at the end of January.
Grief is something Ravella, with the Gary Sinise Foundation, is all too familiar with after losing his wife and then marrying the widow of a fallen service member.
'This is a hard day. It's hard to comprehend for them, it's just literally such a shock,' Ravella said.
The Gary Sinise Foundation plans to connect with the unit that the Marines were with to extend their support and resources, which include support groups and events for families of the fallen.
'There's a lot for them to process. So a lot of this in the initial stages they probably won't remember many these days, so as a foundation, we try to really be there in those days down the road,' he said.
The crash is still under investigation.
The surviving Marine is still in the hospital in serious condition.
The Marine Corps does not plan to release the names of the Marines until their families are notified.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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