Poway Marine Dies in Helicopter Crash
A Poway Marine was among four killed Friday when a helicopter crashed in a Korean rice paddy during joint exercises with South Korean forces, the U. S. military in Seoul said.
The CH-46 Sea Knight went down near Toksok-ri, close to the east coast port of Pohang, while taking part in annual Team Spirit exercises, a U. S. military statement said. No one was reported injured on the ground.
The statement said the cause of the crash was unknown.
In Washington, the Marine Corps identified the dead as Lance Cpl. Jon D. Edwards, 19, of Poway; Capt. Lawrence L. Beason Jr., 28, of Plano, Tex.; 1st Lt. Christopher M. O’Connor, 26, of Gaylord, Mich.; and Cpl. Michael W. Vinet, 22, of Riverside.
The helicopter was assigned to the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit based at Camp Pendleton, the statement said. The troop-transport helicopter had been operating from the Navy assault ship Belleau Wood.
About 200,000 U. S. and South Korean troops are taking part in the maneuvers to practice bringing in U. S. reinforcements in the event of an attack by communist North Korea.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
