Lcpl Rother Research Paper

In August of 1988 LCpl Jason Rother, while assigned to 3rd Battalion, 2"d Marines, took part in desert warfare training which took place in Twentynine Palms, Ca. LCpl Rother's skeletal remains were found four months later two miles from the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center. LCpl Rother's death was a result of failed accountability by his Squad leader, platoon sergeant, and his OIC.
LCpl Rother was a rifleman with Kilo Company assigned tasked with being a road guard/guide on the last day of a three day live fire training exercise. The last night of the training event involved a motorized march through a mountainous pass. LCpl Rother was posted by his OIC, 1st Lt Lawson, along a long desolate road alone despite the unit's two man pairing policy. This left LCpl Rother
From then on LCpl
Rother's leadership assumed that he was with 1/10 and continued to report "all present" at an all hands formation. After a weapon inventory on the 1st of September LCpl Rother's leadership realized his weapon was not accounted for.
The search for LCpl Rother involved over a thousand Marines on foot, National Park Service,
CARDA (California Rescue Dog Association), infrared radar, thermal imaging, and aviation assets such as the OV-10A, UH-1N, AH-lT, and the CH-46. After three days the initial search was call off and LCpl
Rother was assumed to have gone AWOL or dead. There were two multiple day searches, the first turned up his pack, helmet, gas mask, flak jacket and an arrow made of stones which was believed to show which direction he traveled. During the second search, marines found tracks, pieces of military equipment, ammunition and another rock arrow. It wasn't until December 4th during search and rescue exercise being conducted by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Mountain/Desert Search and Rescue
Team that LCpl Rother's skeletal remains was found. He had hike over 17 miles and is believed to