P 091540Z NOV 00  ZYW
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//CMC//
TO ALMAR
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UNCLAS  //N05000//
ALMAR 041/00
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/MISHAP FATALITY AND INJURY SUMMARY FOR OCTOBER 2000//
POC/LEIF R. LARSEN/COL/DIR SAFETY DIVISION/CMC (SD)
/TEL:DSN 224-1202 1077/TEL:COMM (703) 614-XXXX//
RMKS/1.  DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2000, FOUR MARINES DIED DUE
TO MISHAPS AND ANOTHER 16 HAD SIGNIFICANT INJURIES.  THE FOLLOWING
PROVIDES A SUMMARY OF OUR "CASUALTIES" FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER:
A.  FATALITIES:
1.  GYSGT, FROM MAG-36, COLLAPSED AND DIED AFTER SQUADRON PT.
NO ALCOHOL INVOLVED. (ON DUTY)
2.  GYSGT, WITH HMX-1, WAS HIT HEAD-ON AND KILLED WHILE DRIVING
IN HIS PMV AT 2300 BY A SEMI-TRACTOR TRAILER, WHICH WAS IN THE
WRONG LANE.  NO ALCOHOL INVOLVED. (OFF DUTY)
3.  CPL, FROM MAG-42, WAS STRUCK IN THE BACK AND KILLED BY A
DISCHARGE FROM A RIFLE THAT WAS BEING CLEARED.  HE WAS ON LEAVE
RETURNING FROM A HUNTING TRIP.  NO ALCOHOL INVOLVED. (OFF DUTY)
4.  PFC, WITH MCSFBN, NORFOLK WAS KILLED WHILE DRIVING TOO FAST
AROUND A CORNER, LOST CONTROL, HIT EMBANKMENT AND ROLLED VEHICLE.
MISHAP OCCURRED AT NIGHT ON DRY PAVEMENT.  NO ALCOHOL INVOLVED.
(OFF DUTY)
B.  SERIOUS INJURIES:
1.  CPL WITH MCB CAMP PENDLETON WAS ON POST WHEN HE DIRECTED
CIVILIAN VEHICLE TO STOP.  VEHICLE HIT MARINE AND DRAGGED HIM 20
FEET.  SNM RECEIVED HEAD INJURIES AND HAS RETURNED TO DUTY.
(ON DUTY)
2.  LCPL FROM 2ND TANK BN RECEIVED FACIAL AND EYE INJURIES WHEN
ATTEMPTING TO LOAD NEW ROUND AND EXTRACTOR FAILED TO EJECT PREVIOUS
50 CAL CASING.  SNM REMAINS IN HOSPITAL AWAITING EYE SURGERY,
EXPECTED TO FULLY RECOVER. (ON DUTY)
3.  LCPL WITH MCB SECURITY BN, CAMP PENDLETON INJURED WHEN ROUND
DISCHARGED FROM HIS M-4 DURING EXERCISE. THE ROUND ENTERED AND
EXITED HIS RIGHT FOOT. HE HAS RETURNED TO DUTY.   (ON DUTY)
4.  SGT FROM BLT 2D BN 2D MAR RECEIVED GUNSHOT WOUND TO LEFT HAND
CAUSING OPEN FRACTURE OF THE FIFTH METACARPAL.  (ON DUTY)
5.  SSGT FROM COMM CO, HQBN, 3RD MARDIV RECEIVED LEFT EYE INJURY
BY SHRAPNEL FROM A GRENADE EXPLOSION.  HELMET AND FLAK JACKET WERE
WORN. SURGERY IS SCHEDULED TO SAVE EYESIGHT.  (ON DUTY)
6.  LTCOL WITH MARCORADMIN DET, MACDILL AFB LANDED TOO FAST
DURING A PARACHUTE JUMP AND HIT HIS HEAD, RESULTING IN TEMPORARY
PARALYSIS FROM THE NECK DOWN. SNO UNDERWENT SURGERY.  HEALING
PROCESS CAN TAKE FROM 6 MONTHS TO ONE YEAR WITH UP TO TWO YEARS
FOR FULL FEELING AND STRENGTH TO RETURN.  (ON DUTY)
7.  CPL WITH III MHG REMAINS IN LIFE THREATENING CONDITION,
ALTHOUGH STABLE, DUE TO ASPIRATION PNEUMONIA AS A DIRECT RESULT
OF HIS ASPIRATION OF GASTRIC CONTENT.  ALCOHOL INVOLVED.  (OFF
DUTY)
8.  SSGT FROM MCRD SAN DIEGO REMAINS IN SERIOUS CONDITION,
POSSIBLE PARALYSIS AFTER SUFFERING SEVERE BRUISING TO SPINE WHEN
HE STRUCK HIS HEAD ON THE CURB AS A RESULT OF BEING DROPPED BY
FRIENDS DURING FIREMAN'S CARRY.  ALCOHOL INVOLVED.  (OFF DUTY)
9.  LCPL WITH MCRD SAN DIEGO ON CONVALESCENT LEAVE WITH
POSSIBILITY OF PARTIAL DISABILITY AFTER SUFFERING CONCUSSION
AND DISLOCATED SHOULDER IN DIRT BIKE FALL.  (OFF DUTY)
10. LCPL FROM MAG-39 INJURED IN PMV MISHAP.   ON WELL-LIGHTED
STREET, MARINE HAD STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT, WAS HARASSED AND
THEN WAS CHASED BY A MOTORIST.  DURING THE CHASE, HE LOST
CONTROL AT 75-90 MPH, STRUCK A TREE, LAMPPOST, AND FIRE HYDRANT.
HE IS CURRENTLY ON CONVALESCENT LEAVE FOR A MINIMUM OF 60 DAYS.
(OFF DUTY)
11. GYSGT WITH MAG-12 INJURED AFTER LOSING CONTROL OF MOTORCYCLE
AND GOING OVER CLIFF.  TIME WAS 0020.  HE IS EXPECTED TO RECOVER
FROM HEAD AND LEG INJURIES AND RETURN TO DUTY.  (OFF DUTY)
12. HR (E-1) WITH HQBN, 2ND MARDIV REMAINS IN COMA AFTER PMV
MISHAP.  SAILOR WAS SPEEDING, LOST CONTROL, OVERCORRECTED, ENTERED
THE ONCOMING LANE, AND WAS BROADSIDED ON PASSENGER SIDE OF HIS
VEHICLE. MISHAP OCCURRED DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS UNDER DRY
CONDITIONS.  HE WILL BE DISCHARGED FROM THE HOSPITAL AND
DELIVERED TO LONG-TERM HEALTH CARE.  HE IS EXPECTED TO HAVE
PERMANENT DISABILITY.  (OFF DUTY)
13. MAJOR WITH RESERVE SUPPORT UNIT, CLNC WAS RIDING A
MOTORCYCLE WHEN A DEER THAT HAD BEEN HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE
STRUCK HIM. THE NIGHT WAS CLEAR AND PAVEMENT WAS DRY.  HE IS ON
CONVALESCENT LEAVE AND IS EXPECTED TO RETURN TO DUTY.  (OFF DUTY)
14. PFC WITH INST BN, QUANTICO FELL ASLEEP ON I-95, RAN OFF THE
ROAD, AND DOWN A 30-FOOT EMBANKMENT HITTING TREES.  MISHAP
OCCURRED AT 0430.  MARINE SUFFERED HEAD TRAUMA BUT IS STABLE AND
RESPONDING TO TREATMENT.  (OFF DUTY)
15. SGT WITH MAG-42 DRIVING PMV FELL ASLEEP, DRIFTED ACROSS LEFT
LANE, OVERCORRECTED, AND ROLLED VEHICLE.  TIME OF MISHAP WAS 0130.
MARINE IS IN CRITICAL, BUT STABLE CONDITION WITH MULTIPLE INTERNAL
INJURIES.  (OFF DUTY)
16. CPL FROM MARCORSUPACT WAS SPEEDING AND LOST CONTROL OF HIS
VEHICLE.  HE WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AS IT ROLLED AND
SUSTAINED MULTIPLE TRAUMA INJURIES. HE IS IN STABLE TO GOOD
CONDITION AND AWAITING DETERMINATION FOR RETURN TO DUTY.  ALCOHOL
WAS INVOLVED. (OFF DUTY)
2.  WE CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE TRAGIC LOSSES AND INJURIES AT AN
ALARMING RATE WHEN WE LOOK AT THE COLLECTIVE LOSSES WE HAVE
THROUGHOUT OUR CORPS.  MARINE CORPS FATALITIES OVER THE LAST FIVE
YEARS HAVE AVERAGED SEVEN (7) FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER AND FIVE (5)
FOR NOVEMBER.  WE MAY HAVE BEATEN OUR FIVE (5) YEAR AVERAGE DURING
OCTOBER 2000, BUT THE FOUR FATALITIES AND NUMEROUS SERIOUS INJURIES
LISTED ABOVE ARE AN INDICATION WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO TO WIN THIS
WAR AGAINST MISHAPS, INJURIES AND FATALITIES.
3.  OUR MARINES, SAILORS AND CIVILIANS SHOULD BE AWARE OF THESE
PREVENTABLE MISHAPS. WE MUST CONTINUE TO USE GOOD JUDGMENT,
EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP, AND OPERATIONAL RISK MANAGEMENT TO PREVENT
THE LOSS OF OUR MARINES.  I EXPECT YOUR PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT IN
TURNING THIS SITUATION AROUND.
4.  SEMPER FIDELIS, J. L. JONES, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//
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