Bad day for all of us. What a tagic lost of so many good folks, 30 Marines and 1 Sailor.

Anyone know which squadron? I also heard two different reports on model of CH53 one sad a "D" from Vietnam era and other said a Super Sea Stallon as in "E"? Also one article believed all were from Camp Pendleton?
Our Prayers and Regards go out to the families of these Heros.
SF
Jim

HMH-361.A/C

Operating on goggles and in bad weather…doesn’t look like enemy related as of now
it was a HMH-361.A/C

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UPDATE FOR PRESS RELEASE #05-039

PRESS RELEASE #05-040

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thirty Marines, 1 Sailor die in helicopter crash

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq - Thirty Marines and one Sailor from the 1st Marine Division and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing of the I Marine Expeditionary Force died early this morning when their CH-53E "Super Stallion" helicopter crashed near Ar Rutbah in the Al Anbar Province while conducting security and stabilization operations.

All Marines, Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen of the I Marine Expeditionary Force mourn the tragic loss of our brothers in arms.

A recovery team is at the crash site, and the cause of the crash is currently under investigation.

The names of the deceased are being withheld pending next of kin notification.

"While we mourn the loss of these heroes, we will honor their sacrifice by continuing our mission to bring democracy to the people of Iraq," said Lt. Gen. John F. Sattler, Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force. "To the families of these brave men, our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to you at this most difficult of times."
.

George I agree goggles and severe weather, sandstorms? Sounds like to much can do and let's get it done over safety of aircrew and paxs. Hate being a Thur night quarterback having never flown goggles in that enviroment but does not have an enemy action feel to it.
Do we know ofr sure if it was an "E" or "D" model?
Could of also been an engine/or both fail from too much sand if they were in fact in a very bad sand storms.

Bad combination

A bad combination: bad weather, desert environment and NVG's. Been there done that. My prayers go out to the Marines and Sailors families. A tragic loss indeed.

Garfield411
UH-1N and CH-53D
Crewchief

Marine Helicopter Crashes in Iraq

This is a news article from the American Forces Information Service that was sent to me.

Helo Crash Hits Marine Unit 'Like Beirut,' Officer Says
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2005 – A spokesman for the Hawaii-based Marine unit that lost 26 Marines and one sailor from the Jan. 26 helicopter crash that killed 31 troops in Iraq says the incident has impacted Marines like the 1983 Beirut bombing.

"It was a tragic helicopter crash," noted Marine Lt. Col. Owen Lovejoy, the executive officer of 1st Marine Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force, deployed in Iraq. The Marine CH-53E Super Stallion transport helicopter crashed near Rutbah, in Anbar province, Iraq.

"I think this has probably been the single biggest loss of life in any one day since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom," noted Lovejoy, speaking outside near the Iwo Jima Pacific War Memorial located near the unit's Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, headquarters. Lovejoy said there are about 3,500 Marines in the 3rd Regiment.

During World War II more than 100,000 U.S. Marines assaulted Japanese troops defending a strategic Pacific island called Iwo Jima. The Marines lost 6,891 killed and 18,700 wounded during fighting that spanned Feb. 19 to March 17, 1945. Only 212 of the nearly 22,000 Japanese defenders survived the battle.

Despite the crash, the cause of which is being investigated, Lovejoy reported that the battalion's Marines in Iraq remain busy doing their jobs two days before the Jan. 30 Iraqi elections. Lovejoy said they are conducting counterinsurgency operations to ensure those elections are conducted as planned.

"Although they did lose 27 of their comrades, they have to keep going," he observed.

The families of the fallen sailor and Marines who lost their lives in the crash were notified, Lovejoy said.

The impact of losing so many Marines from one unit in one day is "huge," Lovejoy emphasized. Due to recent legislation the Marine Corps is slated to add 3,000 new troops to reach 178,000 service members, but it remains the smallest of the armed forces, excepting the Coast Guard.

He noted that the last time so many Marines were lost was the Beirut, Lebanon, bombing in 1983." On Oct. 23, 1983, 241 U.S. Marines were killed when a explosives-laden truck driven by terrorists crashed through a checkpoint and into the Marine Barracks in Beirut.

Reports have said the Marine helicopter was flying in bad weather. That circumstance, Lovejoy said, is often a fact of life in the military.

"We try to do things as safely as possible, but sometimes people actually have to go from one place to another," he observed, noting, "Our pilots are trained to fly" in low-visibility conditions.

All of the deceased Marines were veterans of the successful Battle of Fallujah in November 2004, Lovejoy noted, making their demise "particularly sad."

The Pentagon has so far released the names of 27 Marines and the sailor killed in the crash. They are:

Aircrew -- Capt. Paul C. Alaniz, 32, of Corpus Christi, Texas; Capt. Lyle L. Gordon, 30, of Midlothian, Texas; and Staff Sgt. Dexter S. Kimble, 30, of Houston. All are members of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif.; and Lance Cpl. Tony L. Hernandez, 22, of Canyon Lake, Texas.

Marines –- 1st Lt. Travis J. Fuller, 26, of Granville, Mass.; 1st Lt. Dustin M. Shumney, 30, of Vallejo, Calif.; Staff Sgt. Brian D. Bland, 26, of Weston, Wyo.; Sgt. Michael W. Finke Jr., 28, of Huron, Ohio; Cpl. Timothy M. Gibson, 23, of Hillsborough, N.H.; Cpl. Richard A. Gilbert Jr., 26, of Montgomery, Ohio; Cpl. Kyle J. Grimes, 21, of Northhampton, Pa.; Cpl. Nathaniel K. Moore, 22, of Champaign, Ill.; Cpl. Nathan A. Schubert, 22, of Cherokee, Iowa; Cpl. Matthew R. Smith, 24, of West Valley, Utah; Cpl. James L. Moore, 24, of Roseburg, Ore.; Cpl. Sean P. Kelly, 23, of Gloucester, N.J.; Lance Cpl. Gael Saintvil, 24, of Orange, Fla.; Lance Cpl. Michael L. Starr Jr., 21, of Baltimore; Lance Cpl. Joseph B. Spence, 24, of Scotts Valley, Calif.; Lance Cpl. Darrell J. Schumann, 25, of Hampton, Va.; Lance Cpl. Hector Ramos, 20, of Aurora, Ill.; Lance Cpl. Rhonald D. Rairdan, 20, of San Antonio; Lance Cpl. Mourad Ragimov, 20, of San Diego; Lance Cpl. Saeed Jafarkhani-Torshizi Jr., 24, of Fort Worth, Texas; Lance Cpl. Brian C. Hopper, 21, of Wynne, Ark.; Lance Cpl. Jonathan E. Etterling, 22, of Wheelersburg, Ohio. All are assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

Sailor – Petty Officer 3rd Class John D. House, 28, of Ventura, Calif. He was assigned to Naval Medical Clinic Hawaii, Marine Corps Units Detachment, Pearl Harbor.

Names of other deceased service members are being withheld pending notification of family.

Anyone care to guess the odds of a active duty crew all being from same state? Even the reserve units flew support with/for usually were not all from same state. Also noticed that them Marines in the LCpl-SSgt range are about 2-3 years older than most were in our era. Maybr good thing older and a little wiser sometimes. Maybe it's also helping keep s and causilities down?

Prayers and Best Wishes to family of all our Brothers both Marines and Sailors.
Guard Heavens Door Well.

A Message from the C.O.

forwarded y Lt. Kalle Kangas, 361.
--

Dear Families and Friends,

On the morning of Jan 26, 2004, "Tiger 60", a helicopter crewed by Captain Chris Alaniz, Captain Lyle Gordon, Staff Sergeant Dexter Kimble, and Lance Corporal Tony Hernandez was flying a mission in the Western Iraqi Desert to transport 27 Marines to an outlying base. At approximately 0120 local Iraq time, their aircraft crashed. All personnel on board "Tiger 60" perished.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of our fallen Marines during this time of unthinkable grief. On behalf of the Marines and Sailors of HMH-361, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family members of Captain Chris Alaniz, Captain Lyle Gordon, Staff Sergeant Dexter Kimble, and Lance Corporal Tony Hernandez.

On numerous occasions, I've personally had the honor of flying with each member of the crew of "Tiger 60". Their professionalism and devotion to duty, both on the ground and in the air, were a great source of pride for me personally as well as for the entire Squadron. They had my unconditional trust and confidence.

I can only begin to comprehend the depth of sorrow the family members of the crew of "Tiger 60" are going through right now but I hope they take solace in the knowledge that Captain Chris Alaniz, Captain Lyle Gordon, Staff Sergeant Dexter Kimble, and Lance Corporal Tony Hernandez gave their lives in the defense of our freedom and for that we are forever in their debt. It is truly tragic that we lose Marines of the caliber of the crew of Tiger 60, but I take comfort in the certainty that we are all better off for having known them. They will not be forgotten.

Semper Fidelis
Anthony L. Winters
Lieutenant Colonel, USMC
Commanding Officer
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361
wintersal@3mawdm.usmc.mil

(L-R) Pilots Capt. Halpern, CH-53, Capt. Marvel, CH-46, and Capt. Alaniz, CH-53, share a moment during the Saturday night festivities at ReUo4' in Reno.

Capt. Alaniz

Sir

You will be missed by your older brothers more than you will ever know. You shared with us the joys of helicopter flight. You were center stage on our last night together. Rest easy little brother until we meet again.

Semper Fi

Semper Fidelis from us all,

you all were our BROTHERS,

"Then - Now - and Forever" .