Marine Staff Sgt. Dies in Humvee Rollover

U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Jerry L. Betzold, 26, from Avon, Indiana, died on Sunday after a Humvee rollover during a training exercise at the Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California. Betzold, who joined the Marine Corps in 2016 and was promoted to staff sergeant on March 1, 2024, was the only Marine injured in the incident. He was initially treated at Robert E. Bush Naval Hospital and then transferred to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, where he was pronounced dead. Col. David Hart, TTECG Director, praised Betzold for his dedication, stating, 'He tragically lost his life while working to ensure our combat formations remain ready.' The incident is being investigated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Vehicle rollovers are a leading cause of death in the U.S. military, often attributed to factors like driver inattention and insufficient training.