R 131315Z APR 01
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//CMC//
TO ALMAR
BT
UNCLAS //N05000//
ALMAR 014/01
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/SD//
SUBJ/MARCH 2001 SAFETY SUMMARY//
RMKS/1. DURING THE MONTH OF MARCH 2001, SIX ACTIVE DUTY MARINES
DIED DUE TO GROUND RELATED MISHAPS (INCLUDING ONE MARINE FATALITY
ACCOUNTED FOR BY THE NAVY). TWO MARINES DIED FROM SUSPECTED
SUICIDES, AND THIRTEEN MARINES SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT INJURIES. WE
ALSO HAD ONE CIVILIAN FATALITY FROM A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE MISHAP.
THE FOLLOWING PROVIDES A SUMMARY OF OUR CASUALTIES FOR THE MONTH
OF MARCH:
A. FATALITIES:
(1) MSGT FROM H&S BN, RECRUITING SCHOOL WAS HOME ON CONVALESCENT
LEAVE IN HIS QUARTERS. HE HAD RECENT KNEE SURGERY AND WAS ON
CRUTCHES. HE DIED AFTER APPARENTLY FALLING AND HITTING HIS HEAD.
(2) LCPL FROM 8TH ENGRSPTBN, 2D FSSG WAS CRUSHED BY A FALLING TREE
WHILE CONDUCTING LANDING ZONE CLEARING OPERATIONS ABOARD CAMP
LEJEUNE, NC. INJURIES RESULTED IN DEATH.
(3) PFC FROM 2D BN, 5TH MARINES WAS HOSPITALIZED DUE TO SEVERE
VOMITING AFTER COMPLETION OF A 26 MILE CONDITIONING MARCH. HE WAS
DIAGNOSED WITH BRAIN SWELLING AND PLACED ON LIFE SUPPORT. SNM WAS
LATER TAKEN OFF LIFE SUPPORT AND PRONOUNCED DEAD.
(4) CPL FROM 2D LAR BN, 22 MEU (SOC) WAS WALKING ON A CATWALK IN
THE WELL DECK AND FELL THROUGH AN OPEN HATCH AND HIT AN AAV. SNM
WAS LISTED IN CRITICAL CONDITION WITH BRAIN SWELLING AND EVENTUALLY
DIED (THIS IS A NAVY MISHAP).
(5) LCPL FROM 1ST BN, 4TH MAR WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE VEHICLE
ACCIDENT IN WHICH HIS VEHICLE HIT TWO TREES. SNM SUFFERED FATAL
HEAD AND ABDOMINAL INJURIES.
(6) LCPL FROM 1ST FAST CO, MCSFBN, NORVA SUFFERED RESPIRATORY
FAILURE, DUE TO APPARENT ALCOHOL POISONING, AND DIED.
(7) SSGT FROM RS KANSAS CITY, MO, 9TH MCD WAS DRIVING A GOVERNMENT
VEHICLE NORTHBOUND ON I-65, WHEN HE STRUCK AND KILLED A 25 YEAR OLD
MALE WHO WAS CROSSING THE INTERSTATE ON FOOT. SNM WAS NOT
INJURED.
B. REPRESENTATIVE MISHAPS THAT RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURIES:
(1) LCPL FROM 2D INTEL BN, II MEF WAS TRAVELING NORTH ON I-95 AND
FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL. SNM'S VEHICLE HIT A GUARDRAIL AND ROLLED
OVER. NO OTHER VEHICLES OR PERSONNEL WERE INVOLVED. SNM INCURRED
MINOR ABRASIONS.
(2) CPL FROM 1ST BN, 1ST MARINES, 15TH MEU WAS UNDERGOING HELICOPTER
AIRCREW BREATHING DEVICE (HABD)/SHALLOW WATER EGRESS TRAINER (SWET)
FAMILIARIZATION TRAINING IN THE SWIMMING POOL. WHILE ON HIS SECOND
CYCLE SNM WAS INVERTED AND ATTEMPTING TO CLEAR WHEN HE FELT A BLOW OF
AIR TO HIS LOWER CHEST. WITH DIFFICULTY HE RELEASED HIS LAP BELT,
STRIKING THE BRIDGE OF HIS NOSE WITH HIS KEVLAR HELMET. THE DIVE
SUPERVISOR PERFORMED A NEUROLOGICAL EXAM AND FOUND THAT THE
MARINE'S BALANCE WAS QUESTIONABLE, AND THAT HIS MENTAL STATUS WAS
IRREGULAR. SNM WAS TREATED FOR A GAS EMBOLISM BY RECOMPRESSING IN
A HYPERBARIC CHAMBER. SNM STATED HE FELT SLIGHT PAIN UNDER HIS RIB
CAGE. HE WAS GIVEN A THOROUGH NEUROLOGICAL EXAM BY THE DIVE MEDICAL
OFFICER AND RELEASED TO HIS COMMAND.
(3) LCPL FROM EWTGPAC, NAB CORONADO WAS NORTH BOUND ON TORREY PINES
ROAD WHEN HE LOST CONTROL OF HIS MOTORCYCLE AND CRASHED. SNM
SUSTAINED A BROKEN COLLARBONE AND ROAD RASH. HE WAS TREATED AND
RELEASED AND EXPECTED TO MAKE A FULL RECOVERY.
(4) PFC FROM 3D BN, 6TH MAR, 2D MARDIV ACCIDENTALLY SLIPPED AND FELL
FROM THE SECOND STORY BALCONY OF A HOTEL. SNM WAS HOSPITALIZED AND
DIAGNOSED WITH A CLOSED HEAD INJURY, SUBDURAL HEMATOMA (BRUISED
SKULL). SNM IS IN STABLE CONDITION WITH A GOOD PROGNOSIS.
(5) PFC FROM BLT 1/8, 22D MEU (SOC) WAS PERFORMING HIS DUTIES AS
PART OF THE COMBAT CARGO PLATOON ONBOARD THE USS NASSAU. SNM WAS
ON THE FLIGHT DECK WHEN HE WAS STRUCK BY A FORKLIFT, INCURRING AN
OPEN FRACTURE TO HIS LEFT FOOT. PROGNOSIS AND CONDITION ARE GOOD.
(6) MARINES FROM 7TH ESB, 1ST FSSG, WERE TRAINING FOR RIVER
CROSSINGS WHEN THEIR BOAT WAS KNOCKED OVER BY HEAVY SURF. THE BOAT
CAPSIZED AND LATER WASHED UP ON SHORE. SIXTEEN MARINES WERE IN THE
BOAT. ONE MARINE WAS THE DRIVER AND FIFTEEN WERE PASSENGERS. RESCUE
SWIMMERS FROM THE ASSIGNED SAFETY BOAT AND HARBOR PATROL RESCUED ALL
16 MARINES. FIVE MARINES WERE INJURED IN THE CAPSIZING. THREE WERE
TREATED AND RELEASED. OF THE REMAINING TWO, ONE UNDERWENT SURGERY
FOR A BROKEN LEG AND IS CURRENTLY IN STABLE CONDITION WITH A GOOD
PROGNOSIS. THE OTHER MARINE UNDERWENT SURGERY FOR BROKEN RIBS, A
SEPARATED SHOULDER AND A PUNCTURED LUNG. HE IS CURRENTLY IN
STABLE CONDITION.
(7) PVT FROM GOLF CO, MCT BN, SOI, TRNG COMMAND, CAMP LEJEUNE WAS
SITTING ON TOP OF HIS GEAR, WHEN HE WAS STRUCK BY A HMMWV. SNM IS
IN STABLE CONDITION.
(8) LCPL FROM H&S BN, 1ST FSSG LOST CONTROL OF HIS MOTORCYCLE WHILE
NEGOTIATING A CORNER, SUSTAINING A CLOSED HEAD INJURY AND FRACTURED
LIVER. SNM IS ALERT AND CONSCIOUS. CURRENT CONDITION IS
CRITICAL/STABLE.
(9) PFC FROM WEAPONS CO 3D BN 3D MAR DOVE HEAD FIRST INTO THE OCEAN
FROM AN ELEVATED WALKWAY AND FRACTURED HIS NECK IN FOUR PLACES. HIS
CONDITION IS CRITICAL AND HIS PROGNOSIS IS UNCERTAIN. SNM IS
CURRENTLY A QUADRIPLEGIC.
C. AVIATION: VMFA-323 CLASS B AVIATION GROUND MISHAP UPDATE.
FOLLOWING NIGHT CARRIER LANDING, AIRCRAFT WAS TAXIED INTO UNMANNED
PARKED AIRCRAFT. MISHAP WAS DOWNGRADED TO A CLASS C BASED ON
DAMAGE AND COSTS.
D. MIXED NEWS.
(1) LAST YEAR, FIVE MARINES DIED DURING THE MONTH OF MARCH: THREE
IN PRIVATE MOTOR VEHICLE (PMV) MISHAPS, ONE IN AN OPS/TRNG MISHAP,
AND ONE WHILE ON DUTY IN A TACTICAL VEHICLE MISHAP. THIS YEAR, SIX
ACTIVE DUTY MARINES DIED IN MARCH.
(2) FOR THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF FY01, 33 MARINES HAVE BEEN KILLED DUE
TO MISHAPS. LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME, 43 MARINES HAD DIED. THE
SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION OF OFF DUTY PMV FATALITIES, 13 VERSUS 30,
HIGHLIGHTS WHAT WE ARE CAPABLE OF ACHIEVING WHEN WE PUT HARD WORK,
ENERGY, AND RESOURCES INTO THIS VITAL MISSION.
(3) IF YOUR MARINES ARE INVOLVED IN LIVE FIRE TRAINING, TRACKED OR
MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATIONS, OR TRAINING ON OR NEAR WATER, INCREASED
ATTENTION AND SUPERVISION ARE REQUIRED. LEADERS SHOULD DEMAND A
RISK ASSESSMENT AND RISK MITIGATION PLAN IF INVOLVED IN THIS TYPE
OF TRAINING. PRIVATE MOTOR VEHICLE MISHAPS ARE STILL THE GREATEST
THREAT TO OUR MARINES. DON'T BE COMPLACENT. FORTUNE FAVORS THE
WELL-PREPARED.
(4) COMMANDERS SHALL ENSURE THAT ALL MARINES HAVE READ THIS ALMAR
AND THAT ALL MARINES ARE WELL BRIEFED AND READY FOR THE RISKS THEY
WILL ENCOUNTER.
2. SEMPER FIDELIS, J. L. JONES, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//
BT