Once upon a time, San Diego was considered a dream town for those in the service. Now it’s turning into a nightmare.

SAN DIEGO — Two off-duty Marines were stabbed, one critically, when they and two companions were attacked by more than a dozen alleged gang members early Thursday.

The fight took place in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., a small Orange County town north of Camp Pendleton. The four Marines, dressed in civilian clothes, left a bar shortly before 12:30 a.m. When they walked past a group of young men near a gas station at Del Obispo Street and Camino Capistrano, they got into an argument, according to Lt. Lloyd Downing of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

Downing said the local men left and came back in cars with reinforcements. About 15 men attacked the servicemen, some wielding knives, he said.

Carter Douglass Caroom, 23, was stabbed seven times in the back and chest, Downing said. Randall Roach, 22, was stabbed once and sustained other, less serious wounds.

Both men were taken to Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center, where Caroom was listed in critical condition, Downing said. Roach’s condition was not immediately known, but he was expected to survive, he said.

Steven Brown, 22, and Jason Mack, 27, were able to get away, according to Downing.

Investigators from a sheriff’s gang unit were searching for the attackers, Downing said.

Via Drudge.