Horrific video shows the moment a group of self-identified US Marines were savagely beaten by as many as 40 teenagers after the service members confronted them about their unruly behavior on a California beach.

The victims said they were simply walking along the beach in San Clemente, California, when they were attacked by the mob at about 10pm Friday night – the start of Memorial Day weekend. 

Frightening video posted online showed two victims curled up in the fetal position on the ground as the crowd continued to kick them, hurling profanities and racial slurs. A third Marine was also attacked but not shown in the footage.

The men sustained minor injuries, and refused to be transported to a local hospital in the aftermath, Orange County Sheriff’s deputies say.

Two U.S. Marines were seen in footage being assaulted by a mob of teens along a California beach on Memorial Day weekend

The mob kicked at the self-described Marines Friday night after the men confronted the teens about their behavior in San Clemente, California

Hunter Antonio, one of the self-described Marines, told KCAL the fight began when he told the teens to stop lighting fireworks

Police are investigating the horrific attack and the unknown teens could all soon face charges of assault with a deadly weapon for the beat down. 

In the roughly minute-long video posted to Facebook, the Marines in their civilian clothes were seen trying to walk up the steps outside the Pier Bowl as a group of teenagers shouted at them.

As they approached the stairs, a male teen was seen brutally punching the back of one of the Marine’s heads.

The Marine turned around and charged at the assailant, which led to an all-out brawl, as the teen’s friends all jumped in to take swings and kick him.

Within seconds the group circled around the two Marines yelling ‘Get that f***er’ and ‘f*** that f***er up,’ even using the N-word at one point.

As the cameraman moved closer to the unfolding scene, two of the victims were seen curled up on the ground as the group continued to strike them with vicious kicks.

The brawl only came to an end after two passersby, an unknown man and woman, intervened and yelled at the children: ‘Stop, what are you doing?’

It remains unclear what transpired prior to the video, but Hunter Antonio, one of the self-described Marines, told KCAL the fight began when he asked the teens to stop lighting fireworks.

The brawl only ended when two unidentified passersby intervened and yelled at the teenagers

Orange County officials say, the two men sustained only minor injuries such as an injury to the hand, scrapes to the knees and soreness to the abdomen, chest and head. They refused medical attention at the scene

Antonio said he and his friend from the Marines were enjoying some rare time off from Camp Pendleton in Oceanside during the Memorial Day weekend when the crowd began setting off the fireworks.

When a piece of debris hit him in the face, Antonio said he politely asked them to leave.

‘They were lighting off fireworks, they were being belligerent and obnoxious and annoying other people, so I went up to them and told them to stop,’ he recounted.

But the group followed him back to the pier, at which point Antonio said he and his friend warned the teenagers that they were Marines ‘so they would leave, but they didn’t.’

In the end, Orange County officials say, the two men sustained only minor injuries such as an injury to the hand, scrapes to the knees and soreness to the abdomen, chest and head.

There are believed to have been as many as 40 teenagers involved in the assault, but the Marines suffered only minor injuries

The vicious attack began outside the Pier Bowl as the Marines dressed in their civilian clothes began walking up the steps

Antonio, though, fears he may also have a concussion.

‘My face still has blood on it,’ he said. ‘It wasn’t cool at all.’

Arrests have yet to be made in the brutal attack as Orange County Sheriff’s deputies continue their investigation.

The suspects may be charged with assault with a deadly weapon ‘because of the amount of suspects we are investigating,’ Sheriff Sgt. Frank Gonzalez said.

‘The weapons that were used were their feet while these victims were on the ground,’ he explained.

‘So regardless if the victims choose prosecution or choose medical attention, the sheriff’s department is going to investigate this to the fullest and try to determine who the suspects are.’

San Clemente Mayor Chris Duncan described the Memorial Day weekend attack as ‘tragic.’

‘This is San Clemente, Marines are always welcome here, always going to be celebrated, always taken care of, and that is why this is so particularly tragic,’ he said.