The Marine Corps on Friday publicly identified five San Diego-based service members who were killed when their helicopter crashed near Pine Valley this week.
The three pilots and two air chiefs aboard the CH-53E Super Stallion were all in their 20s and had spent roughly five to seven years in the Corps.
Lance Cpl. Donovan Davis, 21, of Olathe, Kan., a crew chief, enlisted in 2019. His decorations include the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and a Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.
Sgt. Alec Langen, 23, of Chandler, Ariz., also a crew chief, enlisted in 2017. His decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons.
Capt. Benjamin Moulton, 27, of Emmett, Ida., a pilot, commissioned in 2019. His decorations include the National Defense Service Medal.
Capt. Jack Casey, 26, from Dover, N.H., a pilot, commissioned in 2019. His decorations include the National Defense Service Medal.
Capt. Miguel Nava, 28, of Traverse City, Mich., a pilot, commissioned in 2017. His decorations include the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.
The Marines were assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.
“We have been confronted with a tragedy that is every service family’s worst fear,” Lt. Col. Nicholas J. Harvey, the squadron’s commanding officer, said in a statement Friday.
“The Flying Tigers family stands strong and includes the friends and community who have supported our squadron during this challenging time,” he added. “We will get through this together.”
The crew was conducting routine flight training — flying from Creech Air Force Base just outside Las Vegas to the Miramar base — when the helicopter crashed during a winter storm late Tuesday. The wreckage was found near Pine Valley the following morning.
Efforts to recover the Marines’ remains and the wreckage in difficult terrain continued Thursday amid challenging weather conditions.
The crash is under investigation.
