Road collapse
claimed Marine

The Kaneohe Marine was headed
back on patrol in Afghanistan

Lance Cpl. Kevin B. Joyce, the third Marine from Kaneohe Bay to die in Afghanistan, was missing for nine days before his body was recovered on July 4 in the Pech River in the mountainous province of Kunar.

Joyce, 19, was serving with Echo Company of the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine, and had only arrived in Afghanistan on June 2.

On June 25, his five-vehicle convoy was returning from a patrol at 11 p.m. to its base, Camp Blessing, and was traveling on a road along the Pech River when the weight of the Humvee caused the road to collapse, a Marine Corps statement said.

Lt. Col. Gerald O'Hara, Army spokesman, said the Pech River was swollen by a large amount of melting snow.

Three of the Marines in the Humvee jumped off the vehicle. One Marine fell 10 to 12 feet onto a ledge by the river and another Marine fell into the river, but was able to climb out.

Joyce fell into the river and was swept away and drowned.

A rescue swimmer, secured by a rope, searched in vain for Joyce.

The search for the Marine was hampered by flood conditions of the Pech River located in Asadabad in the northeastern province of Kunar five miles from the Pakistani border.

Currents in the river were running at 20 to 25 mph when the accident occurred, military officials said. The water temperature was 50 degrees.

Joyce was from Ganado, Ariz., and graduated from boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego Aug. 20, 2004.

He arrived in Hawaii Oct. 28, 2004.

Joyce is survived by his mother.

Camp Blessing also was the base of Kaneohe Bay's 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment which was replaced by Joyce's unit.

Besides the three Kaneohe Marines, five Pearl Harbor sailors, and 15 soldiers from 25th Division at Schofield Barracks have died in Afghanistan since 2003.