Sibitzky's Discovery

By Sean Son

Troy High School

Remains of 7 Marines, a sailor, and their amphibious vehicle found along with an amphibious vehicle, were uncovered using a remote control machine called the Sibitzky. This action could be flagged as unnecessary by some due to the fact that there is little reason to rescue dead things. Others may claim that most findings of the past do not really provide enough information to change the whole story of a certain event. 

The Dover Air Force Base, who received the bodies and vehicle, would not necessarily need the findings because they do not need the information that could possibly be deduced from any autopsy or tests on the amphibious vehicle as any information found would not be of any use for the present time. However, the rescue of these marines and sailors was not unnecessary, but instead, rather significant. Regardless of how little the information from the recovery of the dead bodies would be relevant, finding the dead bodies fallen from the accident gave opportunity to change people's perspectives on what happened. In addition, the uncovering would warm the hearts of the Marines’ families, who would see that their loved ones are being remembered. Ryan Lee, an 11th grader from Sunny Hills High School, said “I think that in some cases recovering the bodies of deceased sailors and marines may be useful”. These cases may be ones where the cause of the accident is unknown and the information would be important in preventing further similar accidents. This could apply to the seven Marines and sailors and their accident with the faulty vehicle. Daniel Kong, an 11th grader from Sunny Hills High School, said “[the marines and sailors] could have a proper burial to send them off rather than leaving their body to rot in the middle of the ocean.” This goes back to how recovering the bodies would warm the hearts of their families. Those families had their loved ones devoting their life to the US Marine Corps and by recovering the bodies after death, not only do the families benefit, but the reputations of the Marines would as well. This is because people would see that even Marines who died from an accident still have the chance for their bodies to be rescued. Therefore, the rescue of the seven Marines and sailor were far from unnecessary and insignificant as it would touch the hearts of their families, change perspectives, and even reinforce reputations.