Incident Date 19901008 HMM-164 UH-1N - BuNo 160178 - - HMM-164 UH-1N - BuNo 160622 - - Night Vision Goggle training over north Arabian Sea
Adams, Thomas R. L/Cpl Crew HMM-164 ARG/13thMEU SOC 1990-10-08
Romei, Timothy W. Cpl Crew HMM-164 ARG/13thMEU SOC 1990-10-08
Kilkus, John R. Sgt Crew HMM-164 ARG/13thMEU SOC 1990-10-08
Keller, Kenneth T. Sgt Crew HMM-164 ARG/13thMEU SOC 1990-10-08
Hurley, William J. Capt Pilot HMM-164 ARG/13thMEU SOC 1990-10-08
Dolvin, Kevin R. Capt Pilot HMM-164 ARG/13thMEU SOC 1990-10-08
Dillon, Gary S. Capt Pilot HMM-164 ARG/13thMEU SOC 1990-10-08
Cronin Jr, William D. Capt Pilot HMM-164 ARG/13thMEU SOC 1990-10-08
Personal Commentary
At approximately 0415 on 8 October 1990, two UH-1N helicopters from HMM-164 launched from the USS OKINAWA for an "at sea NVG [Night Vision Goggle] training operation" off the coast of Oman [North Arabian Sea]. At approximately 0513 the two helicopters disappeared from radar and failed to respond to radio calls. Observers on the flight deck saw a ball of fire dropping into the sea. Search efforts recovered very little wreckage and no sign of aircrew. All were declared missing at sea. The eight men aboard were considered the first casualties of Operation Desert Shield. The eight aircrew were:
Capt W. Cronin
Capt G. Dillon
Capt K. Dolvin
Capt W. Hurley
Sgt K Keller
Sgt J Kilkus
Cpl T Romei
L/Cpl T. Adams
General Information
Desert Shield MIA
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United States Missing In Action Or Captured
October 8, 1990
PFC THOMAS R. ADAMS, JR. — U.S. Marine Corps, age 21, Baton Rouge Parish Louisiana
GARY S. DILLON — U.S. Marine Corps, age 29, DuBose County, Illinois
KEVIN R. DOLVIN — U.S. Marine Corps, age 29, Stark County, Ohio
WILLIAM D. CRONIN, JR. — U.S. Marine Corps, age 29, Merrimack County, New Hampshire
WILLIAM J. HURLEY — U.S. Marine Corps, age 27, Cook County, Illinois
KENNETH T. KELLER — U.S. Marine Corps, age 26, Cook County, Illinois
JOHN R. KILKUS — U.S. Marine Corps, age 26, Norfolk County, Massachussetts
TIMOTHY W. ROMEI — U.S. Marine Corps, age 22, San Francisco County, California
At approximately 0513 hours on October 8, 1990, two UH1N helicopters from HMM 164 embarked on the USS OKINAWA for an at-sea NVG [Night Vision Goggle] training operation off the coast of Oman.
The two helicopters disappeared from radar and failed to respond to radio calls during the training mission. Searches revealed no sign of the aircraft of its crew and all were declared missing at sea.
The eight U.S. Marines men aboard the two helicopters are the first military personnel to become missing in Operation Desert Shield.
Submitted by: Alan H Barbour, Historian, Historian, USMC Combat Helicopter Association, 20100720
I ALMOST CRIED TODAY
This is a poem I wrote last month. I have never forgotten. If I could somehow get on a boat and find the place, I would lay a wreath on the ocean for them. If I could somehow steer a submarine to the earth's surface far below I would scour the sand for signs of life, and bring them back. All of them. Semper Fi.
I ALMOST CRIED TODAY
I almost cried today, thinking of a friend I know
   Who will never know what I was thinking unless
I tell him. But it was so very long ago...
   And why? He wasn't at that address
When they silently died, profoundly ready to go
   To a place that most knew little of, and some less.
Soon it will be twenty-two years he does not know
   Of the rocking of the ship and the yawning witness
Who saw just a ball of flame in the pre-dawn hour
   Between sunlight and moon, starlight and sea
In the fading half-world of young men's power.
   And then they were gone, the bridge
Searching waves, the water closing quietly
   Over smiles and pride, victory's sweet and sour.
And I? I simply counted their leftover dollars below decks
Yes, IÂ changed them all back into government checksÂ
For the loved ones at home, missing loved ones' strong necks...
All was done in the space of an hour, all eight,
All were done in much less than an hour.
At the time of this accident, I was LCP Adams girlfriend! My Heart was crushed and I will never forget all good memories i had with him! Semper Fi!
Submitted by: Kimberly Jordan, 20190827I knew each of these men personally, having served with them in HMLA-267. I still recall the day I heard of this, I was in Okinawa at the time. Shock, sadness I just can’t describe it. Tim Romei was a great person. He was my first roommate in the Marine Corps and showed me the way!
Submitted by: John Boucher, 20191117I served with these marines aboard the USS Okinawa. It was a sad say in October when we received the news the two helos went down. At first it was surreal. What do you mean they disappeared from radar.
Then when search and rescue brought the wreckage they could recover and piled it on the deck of the ship it was as real as it gets. Walking past it was crushing and sad.
When we initially got in ship we BLT 14 shared a berthing area with some of the enlisted marines of hmm-164 until they were moved below. So we felt a kinship. We had a memorial service on ship complete with a color guard. That was the toughest formation I ever stood in. Every marine was crying.
I will never forget those marines that gave the ultimate sacrifice.
Tribute
YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN MY BROTHERS SEMPER FI.
Submitted by: Joseph Archuleta, Hospital Corpsman with HMM-164, 20111228Admin Correction
This is just to inform you that my dad was from Stark County, Ohio, not DuBose, Illinois. I believe you just switched the counties of my dad and Capt. Dillon. I currently am an Officer Candidate in the Corps and am looking forward to following in my family's tradition with the Marine Corps.
Andrew,
Carry On, Marine!
SAEPE EXPERTUS, SEMPER FIDELIS, FRATRES AETERNI
Popasmoke Admin
Family Information
Thank you gentlemn and women who serve! This gives me great comfort to know that John will not be forgotten by his brothers! I honor all service people and have great respect you all. If there has been any more information regarding this, please feel free to email me.
Thank you for all you do.
Personal Comments
I personally served with each of these men and have never forgotten each of them. LCPL Adams I, toured Hong Kong together a few weeks before this occurred.
They will never be forgotten and Thanks for the tribute. Semper Fi.