Marines killed in Nepal remembered for ‘heroic acts’
Marines pay their respects after a memorial service at Camp Pendleton for six Marines killed in a helicopter crash in Nepal during a mission to aid stranded villagers after two earthquakes.
Six Marines who died in a helicopter crash in Nepal were remembered Wednesday for performing heroic acts to help the earthquake-stricken country.
“Our Marines gave their lives so that others might live,” Lt. Col. Edward Powers, commander of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469, told attendees at a memorial service on the flight line at Camp Pendleton.
“Their last acts were heroic, selfless acts for fellow human beings who desperately needed their help,” Powers said. “Our Marines executed their mission in the most noble of fashions.”
The six died in a UH-1Y Huey crash May 12 while on a mission to provide food and other supplies to villagers. The cause of the crash on a steep mountainside has not been determined.
Killed were Capt. Dustin Lukasiewicz, 29, of Harlan, Neb.; Capt. Christopher Norgren, 31, of Sedgwick, Kan.; Sgt. Ward Johnson IV, 29, of Seminole, Fla.; Sgt. Eric Seaman, 30, of Riverside, Calif.; Cpl. Sara Medina, 23, of Kane, Ill.; and Lance Cpl. Jacob Hug, 22, of Maricopa, Ariz.
Four of the Marines were assigned to the Camp Pendleton-based Squadron 469. Medina and Hug were combat photographers based in Japan.
“Rest easy my friend,” Navy Lt. Brendan McCluney said to one of the Marines, “know that we will carry on your work and treasure our time together.”
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