Photo shows “7 Marines killed in training exercise yesterday.”
Stand up for the facts!
Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy.
We need your help.
I would like to contribute
Service members pictured in this post died in 2015, not in July 2020
If Your Time is short
- Eight Marines and one Navy sailor were found or presumed dead after a training exercise on July 30, 2020.
- In 2015, seven Marines were killed during a different training exercise. These are the men pictured in the Facebook post.
On July 30, eight Marines and one Navy sailor were killed during a routine training exercise off the coast of Southern California when a Marine landing craft sank.
Only one of the service members’ bodies was recovered from the tragic scene: That of Lance Cpl. Guillermo Perez of New Braunfels, Tex. Presumed dead are Pfc. Bryan Baltierra, Lance Cpl. Marco Barranco, Pfc. Evan Bath, Navy Hospitalman Christopher Gnem, Pfc. Jack Ryan Ostrovsky, Cpl. Wesley Rodd, Lance Cpl. Chase Sweetwood and Cpl. Cesar Villanueva.
On Aug. 1, however, a Facebook post featuring the photos of seven different Marines started circulating online.
"7 Marines killed in training exercise yesterday," the post says.
Featured Fact-check
This post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.)
The Marines in the photos were killed in a helicopter crash, but not on July 31. They died in 2015 during a training mission in Florida when a Black Hawk helicopter crashed in dense fog. Four National Guard soldiers were also killed.
Though there was a more recent fatal training exercise involving Marines, this Facebook post misuses the images of and deaths of seven men who perished five years ago.
We rate this post Mostly False.
Our Sources
Facebook post, Aug. 1, 2020
I Marine Expeditionary Force, 15th MEU identifies personnel killed in AAV mishap, Aug. 2, 2020
I MEF tweet, Aug. 2, 2020
The Associated Press, U.S. Marines ID all 9 people killed in sea-tank sinking, Aug. 3, 2020
Stars and Stripes, 7 Marines killed in helicopter crash are identified, March 13, 2015
The Associated Press, Names of 7 Marines killed in helicopter crash released, March 13, 2015
Browse the Truth-O-Meter
More by Ciara O'Rourke
Service members pictured in this post died in 2015, not in July 2020
Support independent fact-checking.
Become a member!
In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts.