A 24-year-old Marine from the D.C. area was training at Camp Pendleton in聽California when he was injured during a training exercise involving an聽overturned light armored vehicle.
Marine Corps platoon Cmdr., Hugh C. McDowell, was born in D.C. and grew聽up in Chevy Chase.聽He died from his injuries Thursday.
His聽father, Michael H.C. McDowell said he realized it had come to an end when聽three Marines came to his door.
“They started to say the words, I said, ‘Stop, please tell me my son is still alive,'” he said, speaking with WTOP news partner
McDowell said he has many questions about what led to his son’s death.
“Did he die pointlessly? Did someone make a mistake? Was the equipment聽faulty? I will not be satisfied unless it is a very vigorous聽investigation,” McDowell said.
He said making sure his son’s legacy is remembered is also important,聽describing him as a patriot with a commitment to his country.
“He was a聽leader, he loved leading the young kids,” McDowell said.
McDowell grew up with聽dreams of becoming a soldier and joined the Marines in 2017. He had also聽planned to announce his engagement to the love of his life.
Six other marines in the vehicle were also聽injured during the training accident but are expected to be OK.
The Marine Corps issued a聽statement calling the accident tragic, saying, “We are heartbroken at the聽loss of a member of our Marine Corps family.”
Officials are now聽investigating what may have led to the incident.
