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Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Service members killed in border crash were California-based U.S. Marines
SAN DIEGO — Two service members killed during a border security mission in New Mexico last week were identified as U.S. Marines based at Camp Pendleton in San Diego County. The 1st Marine Division identified them as Lance Cpl. Albert A. Aguilera, 22, of Riverside, California, and Lance Cpl. Marcelino M. Gamino, 28, of Fresno, California. They were pronounced dead at University Medical Center of El Paso, Texas, the division said in a statement. A third Marine injured alongside them was in critical condition at the medical center, it said. The three were in a vehicle that was a part of a caravan when it crashed Tuesday morning, the division said. The crash in an area just north of El Paso was reported shortly before 9 a.m. on New Mexico's Highway 9 near the Santa Teresa Border Patrol Station in Santa Teresa, NBC affiliate KTSM of El Paso reported. The Marines were part of the military's Joint Task Force Southern Border, which seeks to increase security along the U.S.-Mexico border. This year U.S. forces there came under consolidated military command after President Donald Trump declared an emergency and tapped the defense budget for the effort. The 1st Marine Division said in a statement that Aguilera and Gamino were combat engineers with the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion at Camp Pendleton. Gamino was decorated with the National Defense Service Medal and a Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. He deployed to Darwin, Australia, as part of a rotational force last year, the division said. Last month, nearly 3,000 active-duty troops were deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border as part of Trump's effort to halt migrant and drug traffic. Trump has not commented formally on the Marines' deaths. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, who represents El Paso, said in a statement: "I am saddened by the loss of two U.S. service members who were killed in yesterday's accident in Santa Teresa. I'm praying that the third service member who remains in serious condition recovers, and I'm thinking of the families of all involved." Marine Lt. Col. Tyrone A. Barrion, commander of the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, said in the 1st Marine Division statement that the loss of the two lance corporals "is deeply felt" in the military branch. "I extend my heartfelt condolences and prayers to the families of our fallen brothers," he said. "Our top priority right now is to ensure that their families, and the Marines affected by their passing, are fully supported during this difficult time.' The cause of the crash remained under investigation, the division said. This article was originally published on
NBC News
21-04-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Service members killed in border crash were California-based U.S. Marines
SAN DIEGO —Two service members killed during a border security mission in New Mexico last week were identified as U.S. Marines based at Camp Pendleton in San Diego County. The U.S. Marine Corps 1st Marine Division identified the two as Lance Cpl. Albert A. Aguilera, 22, of Riverside; and Lance Cpl. Marcelino M. Gamino, 28, of Fresno. They were pronounced dead at University Medical Center of El Paso, the division said in a statement. A third Marine injured alongside them was in critical condition at the institution, it said. The three were in a vehicle that was a part of a caravan when it crashed on Tuesday morning, the division said. The crash in an area just north of El Paso was reported shortly before 9 a.m. on New Mexico's Highway 9 near the Santa Teresa Border Patrol Station in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, NBC affiliate KTSM of El Paso, Texas, reported. The Marines were part of the military's Joint Task Force Southern Border, which seeks to increase security along the U.S.-Mexico border. This year U.S. forces there came under consolidated military command after President Donald Trump declared an emergency and tapped the defense budget for the effort. The 1st Marine Division said in a statement that Aguilera and Gamino were combat engineers with the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion at Camp Pendleton. Gamino was decorated with the National Defense Service Medal and a Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. He deployed to Darwin, Australia, as part of a rotational force in 2024, the division said. In March, nearly 3,000 active-duty troops were deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border as part of Trump's effort to halt migrant and drug traffic. The president has not commented formally on the Marines' deaths. U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, said in a statement, "I am saddened by the loss of two U.S. service members who were killed in yesterday's accident in Santa Teresa. I'm praying that the third service member who remains in serious condition recovers, and I'm thinking of the families of all involved." U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Tyrone A. Barrion, commander of the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, said in the 1st Marine Division statement that the loss of the two lance corporals "is deeply felt" in the military branch. "I extend my heartfelt condolences and prayers to the families of our fallen brothers," he said. "Our top priority right now is to ensure that their families, and the Marines affected by their passing, are fully supported during this difficult time.' The cause of the crash remained under investigation, the division said.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Yahoo
US military identifies 2 Marines killed in vehicle crash near Mexico border
The Marine Corps has identified the two U.S. service members killed in a vehicle crash earlier this week in New Mexico along the southern border. Lance Cpl. Albert Aguilera, 22, of Riverside, Calif., and Lance Cpl. Marcelino Gamino, 28, of Fresno, Calif., were killed Tuesday after their nontactical vehicle crashed around 8:50 a.m. local time during a convoy movement from Santa Teresa, New Mexico, to El Paso, Texas, the 1st Marine Division said in a statement Thursday. The two Marines, both combat engineers, had been supporting Border Patrol units as part of Joint Task Force–Southern Border operations. A third Marine was injured in the accident and remains in critical condition. All three individuals come from the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, Calif., and were on a reconnaissance mission as the Pentagon looks to better its understanding of the U.S.-Mexico border region, The Washington Post reported. 'The loss of Lance Cpl. Aguilera and Lance Cpl. Gamino is deeply felt by all of us,' Marine Corps Lt. Col. Tyrone Barrion, the commanding officer for 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, said in a statement. 'I extend my heartfelt condolences and prayers to the families of our fallen brothers.' At the time of the crash, which the Post reported as a rollover, the three Marines were in a convoy moving east. The military has not released details as to their exact activities surrounding the accident, as an investigation is ongoing. The deaths mark the first such casualties since the Trump administration has ordered thousands more active duty troops to the southern border to crack down on illegal immigration. Aguilera, who enlisted in March 2023, was promoted to lance corporal in May 2024, according to the Marines statement. Gamino enlisted in May 2022 and was promoted to lance corporal in August 2024, with decorations that include the National Defense Service Medal and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. He also deployed to Darwin, Australia, in 2024 with Marine Rotational Force-Darwin. Joint Task Force-Southern Border, created in March, is an operation meant to aid U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents in monitoring the border between the United States and Mexico to protect against transnational criminal organizations. It was formed after President Trump issued an executive order shortly after taking office calling for a crackdown on illegal entries across the border. The military's role at the border is expected to widen after the Trump administration on Tuesday transferred control of roughly 110,000 acres of federally held land to the Defense Department. The move allows the military to more actively help law enforcement detain those who cross illegally, marking a break from the role of troops at the border in past administrations. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
18-04-2025
- The Hill
US military identifies 2 Marines killed in vehicle crash near Mexico border
The Marine Corps has identified the two service members killed in a vehicle crash earlier this week in New Mexico along the southern border. Lance Cpl. Albert Aguilera, 22, of Riverside, Calif., and Lance Cpl. Marcelino Gamino, 28, of Fresno, Calif., were killed Tuesday after their non-tactical vehicle crashed around 8:50 a.m. during a convoy movement from Santa Teresa to El Paso, Texas, the 1st Marine Division said in a statement Thursday. The two Marines, who were both combat engineers, had been supporting Border Patrol units as part of Joint Task Force–Southern Border operations. A third Marine was injured in the accident and remains in critical condition. All three individuals come from the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, Calif., and were on a reconnaissance mission as the Pentagon looks to better its understanding of the U.S.-Mexico border region, The Washington Post reported. 'The loss of Lance Cpl. Aguilera and Lance Cpl. Gamino is deeply felt by all of us,' Marine Corps Lt. Col. Tyrone Barrion, the commanding officer for 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, said in a statement. 'I extend my heartfelt condolences and prayers to the families of our fallen brothers.' At the time of the crash, which the Post reported as a roll-over, the three Marines were in a convoy moving east. The military has not released details as to their exact activities surrounding the accident, as an investigation is ongoing. The deaths mark the first such casualties since the Trump administration has ordered thousands more active-duty troops to the southern border to crack down on illegal immigration. Aguilera, who enlisted in March 2023, was promoted to lance corporal in May 2024, according to the Marine statement. Gamino, meanwhile, enlisted in May 2022 and was promoted to lance corporal in August 2024, with decorations that include the National Defense Service Medal and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. He also deployed to Darwin, Australia in 2024 with Marine Rotational Force-Darwin. Joint Task Force-Southern Border, created in March, is an operation meant to aid U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents in monitoring the border between the United States and Mexico to protect against transnational criminal organizations. The task force was set up after President Trump issued an executive order shortly after taking office on Jan. 20 for a crackdown on illegal entries across the border. The military's role at the border is expected to widen after the Trump administration on Tuesday transferred control of roughly 110,000 acres of federally held land to the Defense Department. The move allows the military to more actively help law enforcement detain those who cross illegally, marking a break from the role of troops at the border in past administrations.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Yahoo
Military officials identify 2 Marines killed in crash in New Mexico
SAN DIEGO (KSWB/KUSI) – Military officials identified two Marines based out of Camp Pendleton in Southern California who were killed in a crash during a convoy movement in New Mexico on Tuesday. The Marines were identified as Lance Cpl. Albert A. Aguilera, 22, and Lance Cpl. Marcelino M. Gamino, 28, according to a news release from Capt. Charles Kimbrough with the 1st Marine Division. Aguilera, of Riverside, California, was a combat engineer with the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division. He enlisted in March 2023 and was promoted to lance corporal in May 2024, according to the release. Gamino, of Fresno, California, was a combat engineer with the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division. Gamino, who enlisted in May 2022 and was promoted to lance corporal in August 2024, received accolades including the National Defense Service Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. 'This is a hard day': Charity reacts to Camp Pendleton Marines killed in crash The crash occurred near Santa Teresa, New Mexico. The two Marines were taken to University Medical Hospital, El Paso, Texas, where they later died. 'The loss of Lance Cpl. Aguilera and Lance Cpl. Gamino is deeply felt by all of us,' said U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Tyrone A. Barrion, the commanding officer for 1st Combat Engineer Battalion and Task Force Sapper. 'I extend my heartfelt condolences and prayers to the families of our fallen brothers. Our top priority right now is to ensure that their families, and the Marines affected by their passing, are fully supported during this difficult time.' Another Marine with the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion remains in critical condition, military officials confirmed. All three Marines were deployed to the southern border as part of President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration. The crash is under investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
