Marine killed in tactical vehicle rollover on Camp Pendleton identified

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Marine Corps officials have identified the Marine killed on Tuesday’s tactical vehicle rollover as Sgt. Matthew K. Bylski.

Bylski was one of 15 Marines in an Amphibious Combat Vehicle, or ACV, when it rolled over at Camp Pendleton, California, a Marine Corps news release says. One Marine remains hospitalized and is listed in good condition. The other Marines in the vehicle have been treated and released.

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Bylski was from Royal Oak, Michigan, according to the Marines. He graduated from Hazel Park High School in 2018, according to a letter shared on the school’s Facebook page, and joined the Marines the following January.

“He was always wiling to help anyone out,” the letter quotes Bylski’s brother Josh as saying. “He was so compassionate. He was always upbeat and would do anything he could to bring you out of a bad situation and put you in a better mindset.”

In the Marines, Bylski was an ACV crewman assigned to Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, the news release says. Bylski’s military awards include two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

The accident was at least the second since January 2022 in the Marine Corps in which a large transport vehicle carrying Marines crashed, injurying over a dozen and resulting in a fatality.

“Words fail to express our sorrow at the tragic loss of Sgt. Bylski; an outstanding Marine and a leader within his platoon,” Col. Sean Dynan, commanding officer of the 15th MEU, said in a statement. “The MEU – the Marines who lived, trained, and learned from Sgt. Bylski – mourn alongside his family and friends. The entire 15th MEU ‘Vanguard’ family is affected by his absence.”

The cause of the rollover is under investigation.

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Jeff Schogol

Senior Pentagon Reporter

Jeff Schogol is a senior staff writer for Task & Purpose. He reports on both the Defense Department as a whole as well as individual services, covering a variety of topics that include personnel, policy, military justice, deployments, and technology.