(CNN) -- Pentagon spokesman George Little issued a statement early Friday on the deadly shooting at the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia, saying he "believes that the legendary strength of the United States Marine Corps will ensure that they are forever remembered." "This tragedy, as well as the tragedy in Nevada earlier this week, took the lives of Marines who volunteered to serve their nation," the statement said. Little was referring to the seven Marines killed Monday night during a training exercise at Hawthorne Army Depot in western Nevada.