Fallen Marine, 18, From Corona Laid To Rest

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — One of nine service members killed last month when an amphibious assault vehicle sank in the ocean near San Clemente Island was laid to rest Saturday at Riverside National Cemetery.

Pfc. Bryan J. Baltierra, 18, of Corona was among those killed in the July 30 maritime training mission when the vehicle took on water and sank.

Family members said Baltierra died on the anniversary of his Marine Corps enlistment.

Eight Camp Pendleton-based Marines, including Baltierra, and a Navy sailor died in the accident. Seven other members of the crew survived. Their remains were recovered after a two-day search, then flown earlier this month to Dover Air Base in Delaware for preparation for burial, with Baltierra returned to Corona on Wednesday.

A GoFundMe page was created to help Baltierra's family with funeral costs.

The amphibious troop-transport vehicle was en route to a waiting ship during a maritime training mission about 80 miles west of Encinitas when it foundered for unknown reasons at about 5:45 p.m. July 30, according to Lt. Gen. Joseph Osterman, commanding general of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.

The 26-ton vessel went down roughly 1,600 yards from a beach on the northwest side of the island in water nearly 400 feet deep.

Cpl. Cesar A. Villanueva, 21, of Riverside also died in the incident. His remains were returned home Tuesday, and a roadside salute took place.

Villanueva's casket arrived at Ontario International Airport, where a private plane-side service was held for loved ones, after which the flag-draped casket of the fallen Marine was taken to Pierce Brothers Crestlawn Mortuary on Arlington Avenue in Riverside, according to the nonprofit Honoring Our Fallen.

Also killed in the incident were:

-- Lance Cpl. Marco A. Barranco, 21, of Montebello;
-- Lance Cpl. Chase D. Sweetwood, 18, of Portland, Oregon;
-- Pfc. Evan A. Bath, 19, of Oak Creek, Wisconsin;
-- Christopher Gnem, 22, of Stockton, a Navy hospital corpsman 3rd class;
-- Pfc. Jack-Ryan Ostrovsky, 20, of Bend, Oregon;
-- Cpl. Wesley A. Rodd, 22, of Harris, Texas;
-- Lance Cpl. Guillermo S. Perez, 19, of New Braunfels.

—City News Service contributed to this report.