The Nation - News from Jan. 31, 1989

A friend of a Marine who died when he was left behind in the Mojave Desert after a training exercise testified in Camp Lejeune, N.C., that he had asked about his friend’s absence a day before he was reported missing. There was “total confusion” when Lance Cpl. Jason Rother was discovered missing, Lance Cpl. Kevin Robertson said at the court-martial of Rother’s platoon sergeant. Sgt. Christopher Clyde is charged with dereliction of duty and disobeying an order. Rother, 19, of Minneapolis, died after he was left at his post as a road guide at the end of a training exercise Aug. 30. He was not reported missing until nearly two days later and his remains were not found until Dec. 4.