The U.S. military has identified the Marine who was lost at sea off the coast of Southern California as Lance Cpl. Armando Ortiz Canseco, a 21-year-old from Minnesota. Canseco was declared deceased on Saturday after he was reported missing from the amphibious transport dock ship USS Anchorage on Thursday, prompting an extensive search and rescue operation, according to a Monday press release from the I Marine Expeditionary Force.
The Navy has not released additional details about the circumstances surrounding his disappearance, which is under investigation. The loss has reverberated across the Navy-Marine Corps team, with Capt. Gary Harrington, commodore of Amphibious Squadron 7, stating in the release, “The loss of Lance Cpl. Ortiz Canseco is felt deeply across our entire Navy-Marine Corps team. The amphibious Navy exists to fight alongside the Marine Corps, and a loss to the Marine Corps family is a loss to our own.”
Canseco enlisted in the Marine Corps in April 2023, reporting for training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and later the School of Infantry – West. He became a 0311 Rifleman and was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, at Camp Pendleton, California, before transferring to 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment. Most recently, he was temporarily assigned aboard the USS Anchorage in preparation for integrated training between the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit and the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group.
The search for Canseco began early Thursday morning and involved Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Air Force personnel. Crews searched approximately 2,400 square miles using three ships and 12 aircraft. After more than 40 hours of searching, the military transitioned from a search-and-rescue mission to a search-and-recovery operation as of Friday night.
This incident comes amid broader scrutiny of military readiness and personnel safety. In a related development, a former trooper and Marine, Lance Schroyer, was tapped by Trump to lead ICE, highlighting the ongoing focus on military and law enforcement leadership. Meanwhile, the Pentagon has faced questions over policy decisions, as seen in Rep. Rogers accusing the Pentagon policy chief of misleading him on the Romania troop pullout.
The loss of Canseco underscores the risks faced by service members even during training exercises. The Navy and Marine Corps are conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances of his disappearance. The military has not provided a timeline for the investigation's conclusion, but officials have emphasized their commitment to transparency and accountability.
Canseco’s death is a stark reminder of the sacrifices made by those in uniform. As the military mourns, the focus remains on supporting the family and ensuring that such tragedies are prevented in the future. The search-and-recovery operation continues, though no further updates have been provided on the status of the search.
