Marine Corps officials have issued a public call for information after a West Coast-based officer was reported missing this month.
1st Lt. Matthew Kraft missed a March 5 return date for a recreational skiing and hiking trip, officials with 1st Marine Division, out of Camp Pendleton, California, said in a news release Friday evening.
According to previous releases, Kraft is a rifle platoon commander who was assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Marines. His trip, officials said, began on the Kearsarge Pass trailhead Feb. 23, and was set to end in Bridgeport, California -- the site of the Marines' mountain warfare training center.
"A joint search and rescue effort is underway, and we are looking to you for information," 1st Marine Division officials said in a statement. "If you have any information on the whereabouts of 1st Lt. Matthew Kraft or his rental vehicle ... please call."
The numbers provided were for the Inyo County Sheriff's Office Emergency Services, 760-878-0383, option 4; Mono County Sheriff's Office, 760-932-7549, option 7; and Fresno County Sheriff's Office at 559=600-8400.
Kraft's rental car is a gray 2016 Jeep Wrangler, according to the release.
-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.
