Ledes from the Land of Enchantment

Funeral for fallen Las Cruces Marine recruit held Friday

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico — Javier Pong, a Marine recruit who passed away during training back in September, was laid to rest in Las Cruces Friday.

The funeral was held at Baca’s Funeral Chapel. Visitations were allowed from 9:30 to 11:30 AM. He was then buried at Masonic Cemetery.

Pong, 18, was a Las Cruces native. He had just graduated from Mayfield High School back in May, and was training at Camp Pendleton, CA at the time of his death.

The Marines announced earlier this week that he had collapsed during “scheduled” training, and never regained consciousness. They added that his death is under investigation. ABC-7 reached out to Camp Pendleton on Monday for a comment, but have not yet heard back at this time.

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