The two Marines who were killed after their tactical vehicle flipped over in North Carolina last Wednesday have been identified by the U.S. military's 2nd Marine Logistics Group, to which they were both assigned.
Lance Corporal Jonathan Gierke, 19, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, and Private First Class Zachary Riffle, 18, of Kingwood, West Virginia, were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which injured 17 other service members riding in the military truck,
The crash took place around 1pm at the intersection of US 17 and Highway 210 between Verona and Holly Ridge, about five miles from Camp Lejeune.
Louis Barrera was behind the wheel of the seven-ton truck carrying 19 fellow Marines, when he made a right turn onto US 17, lost control and overturned, causing the soldiers to be ejected.
Jonathan Gierke, 19, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, and Zachary Riffle, 18, of Kingwood, West Virginia, were identified as the two Marines killed when their military truck crashed in North Carolina
Another military vehicle behind the truck then hit one of the Marines as it could not stop in time.
Three injured Marines remain hospitalized and in stable condition, one at the New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, North Carolina, and another at the Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune, according to a press release from the 2nd Marine Logistics Group
The 14 other injured Marines have since been discharged from medical care and have returned to their base.
Gierke and Riffle were both landing support specialists assigned to the 2nd Marine Logistics Group, based at Camp Lejeune, the second largest Marine base in the country behind California's Camp Pendleton.
The two entered active duty in March 2021 and were both past recipients of the National Defense and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol investigated last Wednesday's fatal crash after a seven-ton truck military truck flipped over, killing two and injuring 17 US Marines
A US Marine pictured as police investigate the fatal crash on Wednesday, after a military vehicle driven by Louis Barrera, 19, crashed and killed two fellow Marines
Three injured Marines remain hospitalized and in stable condition following the tragedy in North Carolina, while 14 others have been discharged. Gierke (center) and Riffle (right) were above at their recruit training graduation last May at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in South Carolina
'My sincerest heartfelt condolences are extended to the family, friends, and colleagues of the Marines who lost their lives or were injured in Wednesday's vehicle mishap,' Brigadier General Forrest C. Poole III, commanding general of 2nd Marine Logistics Group, said in a press release.
'Our commanders, chaplains, and medical providers are diligently supporting our Marines and Sailors during this time,' he added. 'We deeply appreciate all of the thoughtful community messages we have received over the past several days.'
Gierke and Riffle's passing's have spurred an outpouring of support for the two from their respective communities in Georgia and West Virginia.
'He was probably one of the best mentors I had. He was the light in the dark for almost everybody in our group,' Sabrina
