MARCH 2002 SAFETY SUMMARY
Date Signed: 6/15/2007 | ALMARS Number: 023/02
ALMARS : 023/02
R 241200Z APR 02  ZYW
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//CMC//
TO ALMAR
BT
UNCLAS  //N05000//
ALMAR 023/02
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/SD//
SUBJ/MARCH 2002 SAFETY SUMMARY//
RMKS/1.  DURING THE MONTH OF MARCH 2002, SIX MARINES DIED IN ON AND
OFF DUTY MISHAPS, ONE SAILOR DIED IN AN AVIATION MISHAP, 15 MARINES
SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT INJURIES, AND THREE MARINES DIED IN APPARENT
SUICIDES.  THE FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF OUR CASUALTIES FOR THE
MONTH OF MARCH 2002:
A.  FATALITIES
ON DUTY:
(1) CPL FROM 1ST TSBN, 1ST FSSG FELL OUT OF A PT FORMATION RUN AND
WAS SUBSEQUENTLY TAKEN TO CAMP PENDLETON NAVAL HOSPITAL.  HE WAS
DIAGNOSED WITH CRANIAL BLEEDING AND FLOWN TO SAN DIEGO HOSPITAL
WHERE HE LATER DIED.
(2) RECRUIT FROM 1ST RTB, RTR, MCRD, PARRIS ISLAND, SC FELL OUT OF A
RUN WHILE TAKING THE INITIAL STRENGTH TEST.  HE WAS MEDEVACED AND
LATER DIED AT THE HOSPITAL.
OFF DUTY:
(1) GYSGT FROM MARINE CORPS TACTICAL SYSTEMS SUPPORT ACTIVITY, CAMP
PENDLETON, CA DIED WHILE PERFORMING INDIVIDUAL PT.
(2) GYSGT FROM TRNG CO, MCSFBN NORFOLK, VA DIED AFTER HE LOST
CONTROL OF HIS MOTORCYCLE.
(3) TWO LCPLS FROM HMLA-167, MAG-26, AND THREE CIVILIANS WERE KILLED
WHEN A TRACTOR-TRAILER REAR-ENDED THE POV THEY WERE TRAVELING IN.
SUICIDES:
(1) LCPL FROM H&HS, MCAS, CHERRY POINT, NC WAS FOUND HANGING IN HIS
ROOM.
(2) PVT (DESERTER) FROM MARDET FT SILL, OK WAS FOUND DEAD FROM AN
APPARENT SELF-INFLICTED 12-GAUGE SHOTGUN WOUND TO THE HEAD.
(3) 1STSGT FROM HQSVCBN, MCB QUANTICO, VA WAS FOUND DEAD FROM AN
APPARENT SELF-INFLICTED GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE HEAD.
B.  MISHAPS THAT RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURIES:
ON DUTY:
(1) PFC FROM COMBINED ARMS TRAINING CENTER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED
WHEN HE WAS PINNED BETWEEN AN AUTOMATIC HYDRAULIC DOOR AND THE
DOOR FRAME.
(2) LCPL FROM 3D BN, 7TH MAR, 1ST MARDIV, SUSTAINED SEVERE ARTERIAL
DAMAGE TO HIS LEFT HAND AND MULTIPLE AMPUTATIONS OF HIS FINGERS
AFTER PICKING UP AN ARTILLERY ROUND SIMULATOR WHICH THEN EXPLODED.
(3) FOUR MARINES (SGT, CPL, TWO LCPLS) FROM 7TH COMM BN, WERE IN A
CONVOY TRAVELING FROM CAMP HANSEN TO CAMP KINSER.  ONE LVS WAS
TOWING ANOTHER WITH TWO HMMWVS PROVIDING FRONT AND REAR CONVOY
ESCORT.  AT AN INTERSECTION, THE LEAD HMMWV STOPPED, AND THE LVS
IMPACTED THE REAR OF THE HMMWV.  THE LVS FISHTAILED INTO THE
INTERSECTION, CAUSING THE TOWED LVS TO IMPACT A JAPANESE CITIZEN'S
VEHICLE.  ALL FOUR MARINES WERE INJURED.
OFF DUTY GROUND INJURIES:
(1) SGT FROM 3D AA BN LOST CONTROL OF HIS MOTOCROSS MOTORCYCLE WHILE
EXECUTING A JUMP.  THE MOTORCYCLE LANDED ON TOP OF HIM, RUPTURING
HIS SPLEEN.  HE IS IN SERIOUS CONDITION.
(2) LCPL FROM HQ COMPANY, 1STBN, 1STMAR, CAMP PENDLETON, CA WAS A
PASSENGER IN A CAR THAT LEFT THE ROAD AND HIT A TREE.  THE LCPL
SUSTAINED SEVERE INTERNAL INJURIES AND IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION.
(3) SGT FROM 7TH ESB, 1ST FSSG FRACTURED HIS SKULL AND HIP AFTER A
MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT.
(4) SGT FROM 2D RECON BN, CAMP LEJEUNE, NC WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED AND
IN CRITICAL CONDITION AFTER A RECREATIONAL PARACHUTE JUMP.
(5) CPL FROM 5TH BN, 10TH MAR, WAS A PASSENGER IN A VEHICLE WHEN
THE DRIVER FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL.  THE VEHICLE CRASHED, THROWING
SNM FROM THE VECHICLE SUSTAINING THREE BROKEN VERTEBRAE IN HIS NECK.
THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INJURED.
C.  AVIATION:
(1) AV-8B FROM VMA-214 CRASHED WHILE CONDUCTING CARRIER QUALS
ABOARD THE USS TARAWA.  THE PILOT EJECTED SAFELY.
(2) HH-46D SAR HELICOPTER FROM H&HS, MCAS BEAUFORT, SC WAS SEARCHING
FOR A DOWNED CIVILIAN HELICOPTER WHEN IT CRASHED.  FOUR OF THE CREW
WERE RECOVERED SAFELY.  THE FIFTH CREW MEMBER, A NAVY CORPSMAN,
DIED IN THE MISHAP.
2.  MIXED NEWS:
A.  LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME, 26 MARINES HAD DIED IN ON DUTY GROUND AND
OFF DUTY MISHAPS, AND ANOTHER 6 DIED IN AVIATION MISHAPS.  THIS FY,
GROUND MISHAPS HAVE CLAIMED THE LIVES OF 45 MARINES, AND ANOTHER 13
MARINES TO AVIATION MISHAPS.  SEVEN OF THESE FATALITIES OCCURED IN
MARCH.
B.  HISTORICALLY, APRIL AND MAY ARE THE DEADLIEST MONTHS FOR
MOTORCYCLISTS IN THE MARINE CORPS.  OPERATIONAL RISK MANAGEMENT
SHOULD BE A REGULAR PART OF ALL OUR ACTIVITIES.  MOTORCYLISTS SHOULD
ALWAYS BE EXTRA VIGILANT, AND CONSIDER REFINING THEIR RIDING SKILLS
BY TAKING A REFRESHER COURSE.  WHEN RIDING, GIVE YOURSELF EXTRA
DISTANCE, WEAR PROPER PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, AND KEEP YOUR SPEED
DOWN!  THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE WILL MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE
AND DEATH.
3.  COMMANDERS SHALL ENSURE THAT ALL MARINES HAVE READ THIS ALMAR.
4.  SEMPER FIDELIS, J. L. JONES, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//
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