19-year-old man from Madison among three Marines found dead in vehicle in North Carolina

Sophie Carson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Updated ·2 min read
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Tanner J. Kaltenberg, 19, of Madison was one of three U.S. Marines found dead in a vehicle in North Carolina.
Tanner J. Kaltenberg, 19, of Madison was one of three U.S. Marines found dead in a vehicle in North Carolina.

A 19-year-old from Madison was one of three U.S. Marine lance corporals found dead in a vehicle near a North Carolina military base, the Marine Corps said.

Tanner J. Kaltenberg, a motor vehicle operator at Camp Lejeune, was found dead Sunday morning at a Speedway gas station in Hampstead, North Carolina, the Marines said in a news release.

The Marines identified the two others as Merax C. Dockery of Pottawatomie, Oklahoma, and Ivan R. Garcia, of Naples, Florida — both 23 years old. All three were motor vehicle operators in the 2nd Marine Logistics Group.

Deputies from the Pender County Sheriff's Office found the men while responding to a missing-person call, the department said in a statement.

Their cause of death has not been released, and the sheriff’s office is investigating.

"There does not appear to have ever been any threat to members of the community," the sheriff's office statement said.

Kaltenberg entered active-duty service in May 2021, the military said. Before Camp Lejeune, he was based in San Diego at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot and in Missouri at Fort Leonard Wood.

Kaltenberg's military awards include the National Defense Service Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Medal, the Navy Arctic Service Ribbon and the Global War on Terror Service Medal, the Marines said.

Kaltenberg attended Verona Area High School and played baseball and hockey, according to Madison-area news reports from his prep sports career.

“My deepest sympathy and condolences are extended to the family, friends, and colleagues of Lance Cpl. Kaltenberg, Lance Cpl. Dockery and Lance Cpl. Garcia,” Brig. Gen. Michael E. McWilliams, commanding general of 2nd Marine Logistics Group, said in a statement. “Our focus is providing the necessary resources and support to those impacted by their tragic loss as they navigate this extremely difficult time.”

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Tanner Kaltenberg of Madison was Marine found dead near Camp Lejeune