Overview
- Lance Cpl. Armando Ortiz Canseco, 21, of Richfield, Minnesota, was identified by I Marine Expeditionary Force after being declared lost at sea following operations that ended June 27.
- Crews launched search-and-rescue early Thursday and over roughly 43 hours three surface ships and 12 aircraft from the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Air Force scanned about 2,400 square miles before shifting to recovery.
- Ortiz Canseco was serving aboard the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Anchorage during integrated training with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit and the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group.
- Military officials have opened an investigation into how he disappeared and say recovery operations will continue while they seek answers.
- Family and community members in Richfield held vigils and have urged transparency, and the case comes after other recent U.S. military missing-person searches that highlighted the scale of joint maritime response efforts.