Marine dies during Calif. desert training
Base officials identified the Marine Monday afternoon as Lance Cpl. Jonathan S. Long
The Press Enterprise
TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — While relaxing after a day of training, a Marine collapsed at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms at 9:30 p.m. Saturday. He later died.
Base officials identified the Marine Monday afternoon as Lance Cpl. Jonathan S. Long, 22, of Barboursville, W.V.
Long was a bulk fuel specialist, responsible for keeping tactical vehicles fueled for battle, and was with the 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics out of Fort Lejeune, N.C.
Long's training group arrived in Twentynine Palms on Feb. 18, said base spokesman Capt. Nicholas Mannweiler. The Marines had just finished their second day of pre-deployment training in a simulated Afghan village.
Other Marines immediately came to Long's aid when he collapsed, Mannweiler said. He did not know if CPR was administered before emergency medical personnel arrived and airlifted Long to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs. Doctors there pronounced him dead.
Mannweiler said Long's death did not appear to be connected to the training, but the cause is unknown. An autopsy is expected to be conducted today by the Riverside County coroner.
Long was in his second year as a Marine and was preparing for his second deployment to Afghanistan. He spent seven months in Afghanistan's Helmand province, returning to the U.S. in June 2011.
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