San Diego-based Marine lost at sea identified as 21-year-old lance corporal

Teri Figueroa, The San Diego Union-Tribune on Jun 29, 2026

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A San Diego-based Marine lost at sea during training exercises last week was identified by Marine officials Monday as a 21-year-old from Minnesota.

Lance Cpl. Armando Ortiz Canseco went missing early Thursday from the USS Anchorage and was declared dead Friday following an extensive search spanning 2,400 miles off the Southern California coast, Navy officials said.

On Monday, Col. Richard Alvarez, commanding officer of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, issued a statement offering condolences to Ortiz Canseco’s family and friends. “He earned the title of United States Marine and served his country with honor and commitment,” Alvarez said. “We mourn alongside his family, and we remain committed to bringing him home.”

Ortiz Canseco was serving aboard the USS Anchorage, an amphibious transport dock ship, during a training operation with the San Diego-based Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

He was reported missing just after 1:20 a.m. Thursday, prompting a 43-hour search-and-rescue effort involving several military agencies — Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard — according to the Navy. The search team included three ships and 12 aircraft.

Late Friday, the Marine was declared dead, and officials transitioned the rescue effort to a search-and-recovery operation. Minneapolis television station KARE reported that Ortiz Canseco’s family held a vigil for him over the weekend in the Minneapolis suburb of Richfield.

Officials have not said what happened or how Ortiz Canseco went overboard. On Monday, I Marine Expeditionary Force said the circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

Ortiz Canseco enlisted in the Marine Corps in April 2023 and reported for basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Marine officials said. After boot camp, he attended the Camp Pendleton-based School of Infantry – West and became a rifleman.

He was subsequently assigned to 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, at Camp Pendleton before transferring to 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, which is headquartered at the same military base.

Marine officials said Ortiz Canseco was temporarily assigned to the USS Anchorage in preparation for the integrated training operation.

His awards include the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

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