Tue, Feb 21, 2006
The Defense Department has released
the names of eight Marines and two airmen killed in a Feb. 17
helicopter crash while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
All 10 died when two CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters crashed into
the Gulf of Aden near Ras Siyyan, northern Djibouti, while flying a
training mission in the Godoria Range area, officials reported.
Two crewmembers rescued shortly after the incident were taken to
Camp Lemonier, Djibouti. One crewman underwent knee surgery. The
second crewman was bruised and may have inhaled contaminated
seawater. Both were in stable condition the day after the crash and
were transported to Landstuhl Army Medical Center in Germany,
officials said.
The Marines and airmen were deployed to Djibouti as part of the
Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.
The Marines were assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron
464, Marine Air Group 29, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, 2nd Marine
Expeditionary Force, New River, N.C. Reported killed were:
- 1st Lt. Brandon R. Dronet, 33, of Erath, La.;
- Sgt. James F. Fordyce, 22, of Newton Square, Pa.;
- Lance Cpl. Samuel W. Large Jr., 21, of Villa Rica, Ga.;
- Sgt. Donnie Leo F. Levens, 25, of Long Beach, Miss.;
- Cpl. Matthieu Marcellus, 31, of Gainesville, Fla.;
- Sgt. Jonathan E. McColley, 23, of Gettysburg, Pa.;
- Lance Cpl. Nicholas J. Sovie, 20, of Ogdensburg, N.Y.; and
- Capt. Bryan D. Willard, 33, of Hummelstown, Pa.
The airmen killed in the crash were:
- Senior Airman Alecia S. Good, 23, of Broadview Heights, Ohio.
Good was assigned to the 92nd Communications Squadron, Fairchild
Air Force Base, Wash.
- Staff Sgt. Luis M. Melendez Sanchez, 33, of Bayamon, Puerto
Rico. Sanchez was assigned to the 1st Communications
Squadron, Langley Air Force Base, Va.
The cause of the crash is under investigation. ANN sends our
prayers to the families and friends of these brave servicemen and
women.
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