7 Marines Dead: Mortar Explosion

[Rickety Rob]

Didn't see this so I wanted to share.

RIP to those 7 Marines who died in a Mortar Exercise the other day in Nevada.

Little info: 5 died immediatly, 1 died waiting on a med vac, and the the other died at the hospital

[toby2533]

Hey Rob you know what unit they were from? I can't find it anywhere,

[Rickety Rob]

I can't find anything in specific but I did find out that they were with the 2nd Marine Division based out of Camp Lejeune, NC.

More info that I didn't mention. The type of mortar rounds they were firing were 60mm rounds. Currently the Marines have suspended the use of these mortars and are investigating as to why the mortar exploded in the tube

[Rickety Rob]

By the way...the title is supposed to say Mortar not Motor. I'm an idiot

[toby2533]

Yeah just wanted to know since one of our COD buddies is a mortarman,

[Rickety Rob]

Names of those who died haven't been released

[BigFreeze99]

I am here at ground zero on this one... Check http://www.jdnews.com/ if you would like more info.
The number was up to 8 (what I was told at the Naval Hospital yesterday). Unit 1/9.
I was told the names but can NOT release that info.

Mike

[toby2533]

thanks the guys in our clan are from 2/8

[jxspyder]

Did some editing. Sad day.

Sent from the muddy banks of the Wishkaw

[JTFRYE]

They were in my little brothers company


Sent from the hell hole called work

[HAVOK]

Damn. As a Mortarman myself, this saddens me deeply.

[clarkness7112100]

Any word on the cause? We make a few of the parts of the 60mm and we're hoping that its nothing with the mortar. Much condolences to the members who died and their loved ones from WVA.

[NwG_SnakeEyes]

It's sad to see soldiers die this way. RIP


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[JTFRYE]

Snake eyes not to sound mean or anything like that. But they were Marines not Soldiers, we Marines take being called soldiers pretty personally


Sent from the hell hole called work

[Rickety Rob]

Snake eyes not to sound mean or anything like that. But they were Marines not Soldiers, we Marines take being called soldiers pretty personally


Sent from the hell hole called work

Hahaha! You're right about that


Any word on the cause? We make a few of the parts of the 60mm and we're hoping that its nothing with the mortar. Much condolences to the members who died and their loved ones from WVA.

Investigation is still underway. The cause is still unsure of. They just know it was a faulty 60mm mortar round that caused the explosion

[BigFreeze99]

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/03/20/report-8th-marine-dies-from-mortar-explosion.html?ESRC=marine-a.nl

Updated info.... as far as a cause. It is down to 3 possiblities. Can't devulge the info or my sources right now. I don't have the experiance of SteelHavoc, but I have been around the 60mm's plenty of times. I think I know but, will wait for the official results.
What makes me angry... and I thought a day break from the forum would temper it, but Harry FUCKING Reid's (Senator NV) comments about the incident is disrepectfull to put it mildly.
It is hitting hard here. Hell, the CG was in tears. Flags were placed at the Beirut Memorial yesterday.

Semper-Fi
Mike

[HAVOK]

My immediate thought was a misfire. Their dangerous as fuck, and carry the possibility of killing the whole gun (mortar crew).
We Mortars have a farewell when one of us fall. Now, I was Army Airborne, but I feel this is appropriate for these fallen Marines....

"Our loads are heavy, our reach is great.
With High Angle Hell we'll seal your fate.
If I should fall, let my aim be true.
Look up in the sky Motherfucker, that last rounds for you!"

RIP Marines. Be our FO's from that Gun emplacement in the sky.

[Rickety Rob]

Well said Finch

[JTFRYE]

5147


Sent from the hell hole called work

[NwG_SnakeEyes]

Snake eyes not to sound mean or anything like that. But they were Marines not Soldiers, we Marines take being called soldiers pretty personally


Sent from the hell hole called work

Sorry I'm just a dumb Bubblehead. Don't have a lot of interaction with my fellow Marines under the ocean.


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[GermanZ20]

Two training accidents in 2 weeks? These are some hard times already with all the cutbacks... We def could do without losing lives. I'm sure we will be flying at half mast tomorrow in honor of them


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[Rickety Rob]

5147


Sent from the hell hole called work

Interesting how not one of them was and NCO. Seems like the Corporal was the lead. Normally there is an NCO who is over watching his troops to make sure everything is in working order

[KaNtSt0PMeH]

Cpls are NCOs in the Corps. The Marines have high expectations of their Cpls.

[Port66]

In the army I was a light team leader as a corporal. We lost our Sgt and they left me the spot for the rest of the tour.

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[jxspyder]

Cpls are NCOs in the Corps. The Marines have high expectations of their Cpls.

Corporals are NCO's in the Army as well.

Sent from the muddy banks of the Wishkaw

[KaNtSt0PMeH]

Then Rob should have known that lol...

[Rickety Rob]

Corporals are also considered NCO's in the ARMY but tech they are not. They, in reality, are NCO's to be. They take on the responsibilities of and NCO but are still an E-4, and yes I do agree that the Marine Corporals are held at high expectations.

The difference in being a Corporal in the ARMY is that you have to be in an MOS that is in the tactical department. Where as the Marines, they become Corporals (E-4's) right after Lance Corporal. There is no Specialist in the Marines. So gay how the ARMY has two different rank structures for E-4's, E-8's, and E-9's

[KaNtSt0PMeH]

Yeah I like the Mariner's Billoting format. The Air Force is straightforward but lame.

[jxspyder]

Corporals are also considered NCO's in the ARMY but tech they are not. They, in reality, are NCO's to be. They take on the responsibilities of and NCO but are still an E-4, and yes I do agree that the Marine Corporals are held at high expectations.

The difference in being a Corporal in the ARMY is that you have to be in an MOS that is in the tactical department. Where as the Marines, they become Corporals (E-4's) right after Lance Corporal. There is no Specialist in the Marines. So gay how the ARMY has two different rank structures for E-4's, E-8's, and E-9's

Theres no technically about it....a Corporal in the Army is an NCO. Yes, they're still an E-4. But you should notice the distinct lack of a sham shield in their rank. Which is replaced with...... NCO stripes. It's like calling a butterbar an "Officer to be." And no, you don't have to be in a tactical department. You have to be a 4, filling a "leadership" position, who doesn't qualify for 5.

As for Marines, corporals are NCOs. The end.

Now, since we've sorted ranks, and established Marines don't like being called soldiers, lets get back on topic. We can make threads to debate rank structure, if it needs to continue.

Sent from the muddy banks of the Wishkaw

[Port66]

Great explanation. And I remember in history the army used to have even higher specialists for support roles.


Tapatalk HD, high def ranting.

[Rickety Rob]

Theres no technically about it....a Corporal in the Army is an NCO. Yes, they're still an E-4. But you should notice the distinct lack of a sham shield in their rank. Which is replaced with...... NCO stripes. It's like calling a butterbar an "Officer to be." And no, you don't have to be in a tactical department. You have to be a 4, filling a "leadership" position, who doesn't qualify for 5.

As for Marines, corporals are NCOs. The end.

Now, since we've sorted ranks, and established Marines don't like being called soldiers, lets get back on topic. We can make threads to debate rank structure, if it needs to continue.

Sent from the muddy banks of the Wishkaw

I do agree with you about an E-4 taking a role as an NCO by becoming a Corporal in the Army but in my MOS and will all Intel MOS's, corporal's are not allowed/permitted. Due to the nature of the job, corporals are not fit in those jobs. The reason why I say they are for tactical mos's only is because they are usually meant for those who take charge of soldiers and perform leadership roles on the battle field (ie: infantry, armor, cav, and so on).

When I was with 6/9 CAV, in order to become and NCO. One must become a Corporal, lead troops, and then if worthy. They would soon be promoted to an E-5 to take charge of those soldiers. That's if they themselves can pass the board and are in good standing with the senior NCO's.

[Rickety Rob]

Ok, did some research. Intel MOS's can have Corporal's (which i've never seen and was told otherwise) but the MTOE has to allow it. If a unit's MTOE only allows ex amount of NCO's and doesn't have the amount fulfilled. They can promote a sham shield to Corporal (this is for the ARMY). If they are filled to capacity with E-5's, then being promoted to a Corporal is not going to happen.

[KaNtSt0PMeH]

Mike is it looking like it's leaning towards material error?

[iamthesgt]

So sad to hear.

[BigFreeze99]

Mike is it looking like it's leaning towards material error?

The last I heard was either tube or ammo.... no other word... My wife cut me off from her (classified) government blackberry.....lol

[HAVOK]

I can tell you from personal experience that Cpl's are most definitely NCO's. when I joined my Mortar platoon my own Squad Leader (who is the leader of a gun, i.e. Mortar) was a friggin' Specialist. Only when we deployed did he become a Cpl. and then later in the deployment he was promoted to E-5. I myself was a Cpl. as an RTO for our Platoon towards the end of the deployment and was in charge of all the other E-4's in FDC (Fire Direction Center)

[River_Rat_459]

I was a CPL as well. I had a support MOS (92Y - supply) and was laterally promoted from SPC to CPL when the unit supply sergeant PCS'd.

[obtainedpilot]

Rest in peace

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[MikaelTyson]

This is a tragedy. Lot of accidental deaths over the past couple months across all the services. Rest in peace.

[KopfeJager]

Hot tube or round in effect....a very rare event. I never liked these as an NCO. When I would hear a miss fire, I's always made sure I was the one to take the round to the lateral limit and set it down. Always made me nervous

[HAVOK]

Hot tube or round in effect....a very rare event. I never liked these as an NCO. When I would hear a miss fire, I's always made sure I was the one to take the round to the lateral limit and set it down. Always made me nervous

Hell yea, that shit is no joke. My awesome squad leader made the ammo bearer, me, do it twice. Fuckin hated that guy.

[BigFreeze99]

Just closing the loop on some of these older posts....
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/article/20130529/NEWS/305290020/Deadly-mortar-accident-due-human-error-investigation-finds

Human error... much like a few of us guessed.

[iamthesgt]

Just closing the loop on some of these older posts....
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/article/20130529/NEWS/305290020/Deadly-mortar-accident-due-human-error-investigation-finds

Human error... much like a few of us guessed.

Yeah I saw. It's sad. You know people would feel better if it was just a glitch, rather than something that was human-controlled.

[BigFreeze99]

Stars and Stripes dug this story up again. I will repost the current version from the Military.com feed.
Yes, this article is dated today and is the lead story on the link.

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/01/22/report-double-loaded-mortar-tube-caused-blast.html?comp=7000023317828&rank=1


Semper-Fi

[Wafflebadger]

Terrible tragedy for everyone involved. I was a mortarman too and its a huge loss for our community. R.I.P Marines