Army Ranger, Marine Killed During Training in California Desert

An Army ranger was killed by gunfire and a Marine gunner died after an attack vehicle rolled over during a combined service training exercise, the military said Wednesday.

The ranger was wounded in the right thigh about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday during a live-fire exercise, said Capt. Ralph Mills, spokesman for the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in the California desert.

The soldier, whose name was withheld, was flown to the naval hospital on the base and died Wednesday after several hours of surgery, Mills said.

Mills did not know what type of weapon wounded the soldier or details of the accident, which occurred during Operation Leatherneck Ranger.

Earlier Tuesday evening, Marine Lance Cpl. John Ladson, 20, of Mount Auburn, Ill., was badly injured when a light attack vehicle rolled on its side during maneuvers, Mills said.

The Marine, a gunner on the tactical vehicle, was treated at the naval hospital and flown to Desert Hospital in Palm Springs. He died at 6:52 a.m. Wednesday, the spokesman said.

Three other Marines were treated for minor injuries at the naval hospital.

All the Marines were members of the 3rd Light Armored Infantry Battalion of the 1st Marine Division based at Twentynine Palms.

Operation Leatherneck Ranger, involving 3,100 Marines, soldiers, airmen and sailors, began Friday and is scheduled to end today.