Two fathers and the uncle of three of 5 Marines killed in a helicopter crash throughout a storm in Southern California this week are lamenting their deaths as avoidable.
“Perhaps that is the one occasion to the place they wake the f— up they usually say, ‘What are we doing to our service members? We’ve obtained to cease this,'” Steven Langen, father of Sgt. Alec Langen, 23, instructed the New York Publish on Saturday.
Sgt. Alec Langen was serving as crew chief on the CH-53E Tremendous Stallion helicopter when it crashed within the mountains close to San Diego on Tuesday night time.
Steven Langen known as their deaths, “an all too acquainted story within the navy group.”
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Bradford Moulton, whose nephew was Capt. Benjamin Moulton, 27, mentioned he wished the boys would have been saved “on the bottom” throughout the “thousand-year storm” once they have been flying from Creech Air Pressure Base in Nevada to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar close to San Diego on a routine coaching train.
“They’re Marines, they fly in nasty climate, they do what they’re imagined to do,” he instructed the Publish, “however I certain want the operations officer would have saved them on the bottom.” Moulton was one in every of two pilots on the helicopter.
Gregory Davis, a retired naval aviation officer and Lance Cpl. Donovan Davis’ father said, “Not solely did it not must occur, it shouldn’t have occurred.”
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Davis, 21, additionally served as a crew chief on the helicopter.
He added of his son, “He was so proud to be a Marine, he cherished his job, he cherished what he did. “We’re happy with Donovan and every thing he was capable of accomplish in his quick 21 years.”
Langen mentioned the one factor his son requested for on his seventeenth birthday was to enlist within the Marines. “The following factor you recognize, (there’s) a knock on the door. And there’s the Marine recruiter that’s standing there,” he remembered.
Moulton shared that Benjamin was decided on his profession targets. “He was going to be a Marine pilot it doesn’t matter what,” he mentioned. The 27-year-old was a pilot on the helicopter together with Capt. Jack Casey, 26, who was additionally killed within the crash.
Capt. Miguel Nava, 28, was the fifth sufferer within the crash.
“Miguel was the kindest soul you’d ever meet,” a fundraising web page for his household mentioned of him. “His heat, optimistic vitality, and compassion will probably be missed by all who have been grateful to know him.”
Lt. Col. Nicholas J. Harvey, commanding officer of the Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 (HMH-361), mentioned of the 5 Marines after the crash: “We now have been confronted with a tragedy that’s each service household’s worst concern. Our prime precedence now’s supporting the households of our fallen heroes, and we ask on your respect and understanding as they grieve. The Flying Tigers household stands sturdy and contains the chums and group who’ve supported our squadron throughout this difficult time. We’ll get via this collectively.”
The final recognized contact with the Tremendous Stallion was at about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, when waves of downpours and snow have been hitting the region during an “atmospheric river.”
The CH-53E Tremendous Stallion is the most important helicopter within the navy and is designed to fly via dangerous climate, even at night time.
The reason for the crash is at the moment beneath investigation.
Davis enlisted within the Marine Corps on Sept. 3, 2019, and was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal on Jan. 1 of this 12 months. His decorations embrace the International Struggle on Terrorism Service Medal, the Nationwide Protection Service Medal and a Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.
Langen enlisted within the Marine Corps on Sept. 14, 2017, and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant on Oct. 1, 2022. His decorations embrace the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, International Struggle on Terrorism Service Medal, Nationwide Protection Service Medal and two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons.
Moulton was commissioned into the Marine Corps on March 29, 2019, and was promoted to the rank of Captain on Aug. 1, 2023. His decorations embrace the Nationwide Protection Service Medal.
In the meantime, Casey was commissioned within the Marine Corps on Could 16, 2019, and was promoted to the rank of Captain on Sept. 1, 2023. His decorations embrace the Nationwide Protection Service Medal.
Nava was commissioned into the Marine Corps on Could 26, 2017, and was promoted to the rank of Captain on Nov. 1, 2021. His decorations embrace the International Struggle on Terrorism Service Medal, Nationwide Protection Service Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.
In December, a Marine was killed and 14 others injured in a coaching crash at Camp Pendleton in Southern California when a tactical automobile rolled over.
Final November, 5 Military particular operations troopers have been killed in a coaching “mishap” when their helicopter crashed into the Mediterranean and eight Air Pressure service members died in an Osprey crash off the coast of Japan when the plane suffered a mechanical failure.
The Osprey fleet has been grounded for the reason that crash because the Air Pressure weighs when it is secure to return to service.
The Marines didn’t instantly reply to Fox Information Digital’s Saturday night request for remark.
Fox Information Digital’s Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.
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