Long Beach Marine (Assigned To Explosive Ordinance Disposal) Was Among Four Killed In Camp Pendleton Explosion; Staff Sgt. Mathew R. Marsh Completed Two Deployments to Iraq And Two To Afghanistan

(Nov. 15, 2013) -- LBREPORT.com has learned that one of the four Marines killed at Camp Pendleton in a Nov. 13 explosion during range maintenance operations to dispose of unexploded ordnance was from Long Beach.

In a release, USMC Camp Pendleton states that Staff Sgt. Mathew R. Marsh, 28, of Long Beach perished in the explosion. He had been deployed twice to Iraq (2005 and 2008) and twice to Afghanistan (2010 and 2012 as a team leader.)

Photo released per Sgt. Marsh's family by Camp Pendleton

In its release, USMC/Camp Pendleton states:

[Release text] Staff Sgt. Mathew R. Marsh, 28, of Long Beach, Calif., was an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton.
He joined the Marine Corps in July 2003, and was promoted to his current rank in May 2009. Marsh's awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, three Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and NATO Medal-ISAF Afghanistan. He deployed twice to Iraq in 2005 and 2008 and twice to Afghanistan in 2010 and 2012 as a team leader.

Three other Marines (Gunnery Sgt. Gregory J. Mullins, 31, of Bayou L'Ourse, LA; Sgt. Miguel Ortiz, 27, of Vista, CA; and Staff Sgt. Eric W. Summers, 32, of Poplar Bluff, MO) also died in the explosion and two Marines nearby plus a Navy Hospital corpsman were injured and received medical treatment.

Camp Pendleton/USMC's release states:

The Zulu impact area is used for firing explosive munitions such as grenades, mortars, artillery and rockets and for dropping munitions from aircraft. While live-fire training was ongoing at the adjacent Whiskey impact area, there was no live-fire training being conducted Wednesday in the Zulu area.
"Today, our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the Marines we lost yesterday. Explosive Ordnance Disposal is a small and tight-knit community, not just in the Marine Corps, but in the entire US military. Our focus now is on ensuring these families receive the help and support they need," said Brig. Gen. John W. Bullard, Commanding General, Marine Corps Installations West - Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.
The cause of the accident is currently under investigation. More information will be provided as it becomes available.

LBREPORT.com will have further on this as we learn it. We join in extending our deepest condolences to Staff Sgt. Marsh's family and friends.