Brothers (& Sisters) Killed in Action in USMC Helicopters or while assigned to USMC Helicopter or Tiltrotor Squadrons
20100722HMLA-367 Operation ENDURING FREEDOM
Download PDFIncident Date 20100722 HMLA-367 AH-1W - BuNo 165317 - - Shot down during combat mission, RPG took off rotorhead
Weis, James M. Major Co-Pilot HMLA-369 MAG-39/3rdMAW/1stMEF/CamPen 2010-07-22
Carazo, Mario D. LtCol Pilot HMLA-369 MAG39/3rdMAW/1stMEF/CamPen 2010-07-22
DOD Information
DOD Identifies Marine Casualties
The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of two Marines who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
The following Marines died July 22 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Lt. Col. Mario D. Carazo, 41, of Springfield, Ohio.
Maj. James M. Weis, 37, of Toms River, N.J.
Carazo and Weis were assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based out of Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Submitted by: Alan H Barbour, Historian, Historian, USMC Combat Helicopter Association, 20100727
DOD Information
DOD Identifies Marine Casualties
The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of two Marines who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
The following Marines died July 22 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Lt. Col. Mario D. Carazo, 41, of Springfield, Ohio.
Maj. James M. Weis, 37, of Toms River, N.J.
Weis joined the corps in 1994. Carazo entered the marines in 1987. Among his awards is the Bronze Star.
The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing is headquartered at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego; Cobra squadrons are based at Camp Pendleton.
Carazo had served two tours in Iraq, Weis had served one tour there.
Submitted by: Alan H Barbour, Historian, Historian, USMC Combat Helicopter Association, 20100727
Personal Recollection
The AH-1W Cobra was lead aircraft (call sign Dealer 54), and we, the UH-1Y Huey, were -2 (Dealer 55). We were responding to a TIC (troops in contact). When we arrived overhead, the Marines on the ground had not taken fire for the last 2 to 3 minutes (likely because they heard the helos coming). We told the Marines on the ground (3/3 I believe) that we'd search the area. That's when lead was engaged by multiple RPG's, one of which hit. The main rotor came off, and the aircraft crashed into a field. Both pilots, Lt.Col Mario Carazo and Maj. James Weis perished. Dealer 54, We Will Never Forget.
Submitted by: Sgt Ryan T. Smith, Was crew chief on the -2 helo (Dealer 55), 20110905DOD Information
Two Marine helicopter pilots from Camp Pendleton killed in Afghanistan
July 26, 2010
Two Marine pilots from Camp Pendleton have been killed in the crash of their Cobra attack helicopter in Afghanistan, the Pentagon announced Monday.
Lt. Col. Mario D. Carazo, 41, of Springfield, Ohio, and Maj. James M. Weis, 37, of Toms River, N.J., were killed Thursday while on a combat mission in Helmand province. The circumstances of the crash are under investigation.
Carazo and Weis were assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing is headquartered at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego; Cobra squadrons are based at Camp Pendleton.
Carazo had served two tours in Iraq, Weis had served one tour there.
Submitted by: Alan H Barbour, Historian, Historian, USMC Combat Helicopter Association, 20100727
Information Update
These Two Marines and aircraft were apart of operations with HMLA-369 not HMLA-367
Submitted by: Justin League, Served in the Unit during time of incident, 20160405WHEN TOMORROW STARTS WITHOUT ME
When tomorrow starts without me, And I'm not there to see;
If the sun should rise and find your eyes, All filled with tears for me.
I wish so much you wouldn't cry, The way you did today;
While thinking of the many things, We didn't get to say.
I know how much you love me, As much as I love you;
And each time that you think of me, I know you'll miss me too.
But when tomorrow starts without me, Please try to understand,
That an angel came and called my name, And took me by the hand.
She said my place was ready, In heaven far above;
And that I'd have to leave behind, All those I dearly love.
But as I turned to walk away, A tear fell from my eye;
For all my life, I'd always thought, I didn't want to die.
I had so much to live for, So much yet to do;
It seemed almost impossible, That I was leaving you.
I thought of all the yesterdays, The good ones and the bad;
I thought of all the love we shared, And all the fun we had.
If I could relive yesterday, Just even for awhile,
I'd say goodbye and kiss you, And maybe see you smile.
But then I fully realized, That this could never be;
For emptiness and memories, Would take the place of me.
And when I thought of worldly things, I might miss come tomorrow;
I thought of you, and when I did, My heart was filled with sorrow.
But when I walked through heaven's gates, I felt so much at home;
When God looked down and smiled at me, From His great golden throne.
He said, "This is eternity, And all I've promised you;
Today your life on earth is past, But here it all starts anew."
"I promise no tomorrow, But today will always last;
And since each day's the same day, There's no longing for the past."
"But you have been so faithful, So trusting and so true;
Though at times you did do things, You knew you shouldn't do."
"But you have been forgiven, And now at last you're free;
So won't you take my hand, And share my life with me?"
So when tomorrow starts without me, Don't think we're far apart
For every time you think of me, I'm right here in your heart.
Submitted by: N/A, 20100727
EMBASSY FLAG SENT TO SCHOOL
EMBASSY FLAG SENT TO SCHOOL
ENCINITAS: Students at Encinitas Country Day School were presented with a special U.S. flag Thursday to help them celebrate Memorial Day.
The flag came from Marine Lt. Col. Mario Carazo, who raised the flag over the U.S. Embassy in Iraq on March 30. Carazo, who is deployed in Iraq, is the father of students Mario and Milla Carazo.
Mario, a kindergartener, raised the flag at the school with the help of Carazo's friend, Marine Major Tony Gallardo. Milla, a preschooler, and their mother, Jennifer Carazo, watched.
“He sent the flag to connect to the school, and to his children,” said Kathleen Porterfield, principal of Encinitas Country Day.
Marines From Ohio, NJ Die In Afghanistan
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (AP) ¯ The Department of Defense says two Camp Pendleton, Calif.-based marines, from Ohio and New Jersey, have died in Afghanistan.
The government said Monday that 41-year-old Lt. Col. Mario Carazo of Springfield, Ohio, and 37-year-old Maj. James Weis of Toms River, N.J., died Thursday while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Both men were decorated pilots who also served in Iraq.
Weis joined the corps in 1994. Carazo entered the marines in 1987. Among his awards is the Bronze Star.
The government did not release further details of the deaths. The military on Thursday reported that two service members died that day in a helicopter crash in Helmand province.
Carazo and Weis were assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force.
