thedrifter
11-29-04, 06:44 AM
November 26, 2004
Recruit dies during last leg of Crucible
By Gordon Lubold
Times staff writer
Officials are investigating the death of a recruit at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., after the man apparently died in his sleep during the last leg of the grueling Crucible training event.
Recruit Bret C. Moran, 18, from Bronx, N.Y., was pronounced dead at a local hospital Nov. 18 after a drill instructor was unable to wake him around 2 a.m. that day.
Moran was in his 57th training day at Parris Island and had about two more weeks to go, said Maj. Ken White, a spokesman at Parris Island. Moran began his training on Sept. 11.
The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is conducting an investigation into the death, the first at Parris Island since March 2002, White said.
White said the investigation is ongoing, and it is unclear how Moran died. NCIS agents conduct investigations whenever someone dies at a naval installation, White said. If investigators determine that Moran did not die as a result of wrongdoing, the case will be handed to an investigating officer. White said a Marine lieutenant colonel has been identified and is awaiting the case.
Moran was assigned to Platoon 2015, Echo Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion. The platoon had finished everything but the nine-mile hike back to base, where it was to complete the Crucible.
The Crucible is a 54-hour culminating exercise, a physically and mentally demanding event in which recruits get limited food and sleep.
The day had been busy for that platoon but typical for the last day of the Crucible. Platoon members had already completed the combat assault re-supply course, as well as a modified obstacle course where they climbed ropes, a 10-foot wall and did land navigation exercises.
The recruits had also been required to complete an enhanced confidence course, shoot on a firing range and complete a casualty evacuation exercise. Before the recruits were allowed to sleep for four hours, they also finished a night infiltration course.
The platoon was asleep in an area of Page Field. Reveille was to be sounded sometime around 3 a.m., and the recruits were going to march back to base before going to breakfast, White said.
When drill instructors attempted to wake Moran early to complete the final leg of the event, they found him unconscious.
Moran was brought to Beaufort Memorial Hospital and was pronounced dead at 3:38 a.m., White said.
After Moran was evacuated from the area, drill instructors canceled the nine-mile march. Instead, the Marines walked about four miles back to base and met with the base chaplain, White said. A memorial service was held for Moran the following day.
Recruit deaths are rare, but occur about every year or so, according to White. In March 2002, a recruit died of cardiac arrest. In December 2001, a recruit died as a result of meningitis.
In October that same year, a recruit died from a form of flesh-eating bacteria known as toxic streptococcal.
Another recruit died of cardiac arrest in October 1999, White said.
The Drifter's Wife
Ellie
Recruit dies during last leg of Crucible
By Gordon Lubold
Times staff writer
Officials are investigating the death of a recruit at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., after the man apparently died in his sleep during the last leg of the grueling Crucible training event.
Recruit Bret C. Moran, 18, from Bronx, N.Y., was pronounced dead at a local hospital Nov. 18 after a drill instructor was unable to wake him around 2 a.m. that day.
Moran was in his 57th training day at Parris Island and had about two more weeks to go, said Maj. Ken White, a spokesman at Parris Island. Moran began his training on Sept. 11.
The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is conducting an investigation into the death, the first at Parris Island since March 2002, White said.
White said the investigation is ongoing, and it is unclear how Moran died. NCIS agents conduct investigations whenever someone dies at a naval installation, White said. If investigators determine that Moran did not die as a result of wrongdoing, the case will be handed to an investigating officer. White said a Marine lieutenant colonel has been identified and is awaiting the case.
Moran was assigned to Platoon 2015, Echo Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion. The platoon had finished everything but the nine-mile hike back to base, where it was to complete the Crucible.
The Crucible is a 54-hour culminating exercise, a physically and mentally demanding event in which recruits get limited food and sleep.
The day had been busy for that platoon but typical for the last day of the Crucible. Platoon members had already completed the combat assault re-supply course, as well as a modified obstacle course where they climbed ropes, a 10-foot wall and did land navigation exercises.
The recruits had also been required to complete an enhanced confidence course, shoot on a firing range and complete a casualty evacuation exercise. Before the recruits were allowed to sleep for four hours, they also finished a night infiltration course.
The platoon was asleep in an area of Page Field. Reveille was to be sounded sometime around 3 a.m., and the recruits were going to march back to base before going to breakfast, White said.
When drill instructors attempted to wake Moran early to complete the final leg of the event, they found him unconscious.
Moran was brought to Beaufort Memorial Hospital and was pronounced dead at 3:38 a.m., White said.
After Moran was evacuated from the area, drill instructors canceled the nine-mile march. Instead, the Marines walked about four miles back to base and met with the base chaplain, White said. A memorial service was held for Moran the following day.
Recruit deaths are rare, but occur about every year or so, according to White. In March 2002, a recruit died of cardiac arrest. In December 2001, a recruit died as a result of meningitis.
In October that same year, a recruit died from a form of flesh-eating bacteria known as toxic streptococcal.
Another recruit died of cardiac arrest in October 1999, White said.
The Drifter's Wife
Ellie