Marine in Okinawa dies, second apparent drowning this month

A Marine in Okinawa has died in an apparent drowning incident, marking the second such death this month at Okinawa.

The Marine was assigned to 1st Marine Aircraft Wing with III Marine Expeditionary Force and pronounced dead at 3:40 p.m. Saturday at Medea Point, said 1st Lt. Joseph Butterfield, a spokesman for III MEF.

An investigation into the cause and circumstances of the Marine's death is ongoing, Butterfield said Saturday in a statement. The Marine's name is being withheld pending next-of-kin notification.

"The thoughts and prayers of the entire command are with the Marine's family, friends and unit service members," Butterfield said.

This latest incident comes less than three weeks after a Fleet Marine Corpsman died in a diving incident in Okinawa. Petty Officer 1st Class Jorge NoriegaSuarez, a 12-year Navy veteran, drowned on Oct. 10 at Mermaid Grotto, Manzo-Mo.

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