5 Marines who died during helicopter crash in California identified as devastated families speak out

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA: Five young marines who died in a helicopter crash have been identified by the US Marine Corps.

On Friday, February 9, the names were released by the department, as Lance Cpl Donovan Davis, 21, of Olathe, Kansas, Sgt Alec Langen, 23, of Chandler, Arizona,  Capt Benjamin Moulton, 27, of Emmett, Idaho, Capt Jack Casey, 26, of Dover, New Hampshire and Capt Miguel Nava, 28, of Traverse City, Michigan

Marines were reporting to Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361

They were all serving Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and were based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California.

As per reports, the crew was flying from Creech Air Force Base in Nevada, north of Las Vegas, to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, “when the aircraft was reported overdue,” the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing said in a statement.

One of the pilots who died in the crash, Nava, became a father four months ago, as per his father, Javier. “His wife is just destroyed,” he told NBC News before boarding a flight to San Diego, reports NBC News.

Javier Nava said he had spoken to his son a few days ago when he was checking on him. “He was always that way,” the father said to check if I was rested since he was driving long distances.

The Marine Corps shared that Nava was commissioned in 2017 and received the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

Families struggling to cope with tragic news

Nava was dedicated to his family and the nation and he loved flying. “Miguel was a human being to be admired,” he said.

Another casualty, Davis, a helicopter crew chief, enlisted in 2019 and was promoted last month to the rank of Lance Corporal, the Marine Corps said.

His father, who is a retired Navy Captain and pilot, said the family was “struggling to understand the operational necessity for flying into one of the worst storms in southern California history."

“We ask that the Department of Defense conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances behind the decisions that [led] to this event so that we may have some understanding and closure for the seemingly senseless loss of our son and brother,” Gregory Davis said in a statement.

The marine decorations include the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and a Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.