Marine missing from USS Anchorage now focus of recovery mission off California coast

Efforts to find a Marine who went missing from the USS Anchorage during integrated training off the coast of Southern California turned to a recovery mission, according to Navy officials.

The Marine was aboard the ship as part of the training with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit based at Camp Pendleton and the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group.

The search began on Thursday before it later turned into a search and recovery operation on Friday, featuring three surface ships and 12 aircraft from the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Air Force.

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The search covered about 2,400 square miles, officials said.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and all who are affected during this difficult time," the Navy said in a news release this week about the missing Marine.

The Marine's name was being withheld pending the notification of family, the Navy said.

The USS Anchorage is an amphibious transport dock ship based at Naval Base San Diego.

This is at least the second time in six weeks that the U.S. military has had to search for missing service members.

REMAINS RECOVERED OF US SOLDIER WHO WENT MISSING IN MILITARY EXERCISES IN MOROCCO, 2ND SOLDIER STILL MISSING

The remains of the second of two U.S. Army soldiers who went missing during military training exercises in Morocco were recovered in May, ending a multinational search operation that utilized air, naval and artificial intelligence assets, the Army said at the time.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.