Seven members of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force were killed, and eight others were injured, late Monday when a mortar shell exploded in its firing tube during an exercise at Hawthorne Army Depot about 150 miles southeast of Reno.
All of the soldiers were based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Of the eight injured in the blast, five are still recovering at Renown Regional Medical Center. Hospital officials say four are in fair condition, while one remains in serious condition. Doctors say they mostly suffered blunt force trauma from shrapnel.
Renown officials won't provide further condition updates. They say they're making the change "out of respect for patients' wishes."
The military officially identified the fallen Wednesday night.
-- Pfc. Joshua M. Martino, 19, of Clearfield, Pa.
-- Lance Cpl. David P. Fenn II, 20, of Polk City, Fla.
-- Lance Cpl. Roger W. Muchnick Jr., 23, of Fairfield, Conn.
-- Lance Cpl. Joshua C. Taylor, 21, of Marietta, Ohio
-- Lance Cpl. Mason J. Vanderwork, 21, of Hickory, N.C.
-- Lance Cpl. William T. Wild IV, 21, of Anne Arundel, Md.
-- Cpl. Aaron J. Ripperda, 26, of Madison, Ill.
The explosion caused an immediate suspension of the use of 60 mm mortars by the Marine Corps. Troops in Afghanistan are exempted. (AP)
