MARINE CORPS BASE KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii – Twelve Marines who went missing when the two helicopters carrying them apparently crashed off the coast of Hawaii last week have been declared dead.
A witness on January 14 saw a fireball in midair; another reported seeing a flare. The U.S. Marine Corps notified the Coast Guard that two CH-53 copters, carrying six men each, were missing. A search ensued involving the Navy, the National Guard, as well as Hawaii fire, police and Ocean Safety.
The Marine Corps on Thursday said it changed the status of the Marines to deceased “after five full days of search and rescue operations. Marine Corps casualty assistance calls officers personally notified each family of the change.”
Deceased are:
Maj. Shawn M. Campbell served as a CH-53E Super Stallion pilot with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing stationed on Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Major Campbell, 41, from College Station, Texas, joined the Marine Corps Sept. 30, 1999. His deployments include Operation Iraqi Freedom and the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
Major Campbell’s decorations include the Air Medal with strike/flight device, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold star in lieu of second award, Navy Unit Commendation with two bronze stars in lieu of third award, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with two bronze campaign stars, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with two bronze stars in lieu of third award.
Maj. Shawn M. Campbell, 41, College Station, Texas, HMH-463
Capt. Brian T. Kennedy served as a CH-53E Super Stallion pilot with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing stationed on Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Captain Kennedy, 31, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, joined the Marine Corps July 1, 2003.
Captain Kennedy’s decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with one bronze star in lieu of second award.
Capt. Brian T. Kennedy, 31, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, HMH-463
Capt. Kevin T. Roche served as a CH-53E Super Stallion pilot with Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing stationed on Marine Corps Base Hawaii.
Captain Roche, 30, from St. Louis, Missouri, joined the Marine Corps Dec. 19, 2005. His deployments include Operation Enduring Freedom. Captain Roche‘s decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on
Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with one bronze star in lieu of second award.
Capt. Kevin T. Roche, 30, St. Louis, Missouri, HQ MAG-24
Capt. Steven R. Torbert served as a CH-53E Super Stallion pilot with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing stationed on Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Captain Torbert, 29, from Florence, Alabama, joined the Marine Corps Oct.14, 2004.
Captain Torbert‘s decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.
Capt. Steven R. Torbert, 29, Florence, Alabama, HMH-463
Sgt. Adam C. Schoeller served as a CH-53E Super Stallion crew chief with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing stationed on Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Sergeant Schoeller, 25, from Gardners, Pennsylvania, joined the Marine Corps March 23, 2008. His deployments include Operation Enduring Freedom.
Sergeant Schoeller‘s decorations include the Air Medal with one individual action device and five strike/flight devices, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal with bronze star in lieu of second award, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with bronze star in lieu of second award, and the NATO Medal.
Sgt. Adam C. Schoeller, 25, Gardeners, Pennsylvania, HMH-463
Sgt. Dillon J. Semolina served as a CH-53E Super Stallion crew chief with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing stationed on Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Sergeant Semolina, 24, from Chaska, Minnesota joined the Marine Corps Sept. 1, 2011.
Sergeant Semolina‘s decorations include the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.
Sgt. Dillon J. Semolina, 24, Delano, Minnesota, HMH-463
Sgt. Jeffrey A. Sempler served as a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter crew chief with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing stationed on Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Sergeant Sempler, 22, from Woodruff, South Carolina joined the Marine Corps Aug. 12, 2010.
Sergeant Sempler’s decorations include the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.
Sgt. Jeffrey A. Sempler, 22, Woodruff, South Carolina, HMH-463
Sgt. William J. Turner served as a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter crew chief with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing stationed on Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Sergeant Turner, 25, from Florala, Alabama, joined the Marine Corps Aug. 8, 2008. His deployments include Operation Enduring Freedom.
Sergeant Turner’s decorations include the Air Medal with four strike/flight devices, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal with bronze star in lieu of second award, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and the NATO Medal.
Sgt. William J. Turner, 25, Florala, Alabama, HMH-463
Cpl. Matthew R. Drown served as a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter crew chief with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing stationed on Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Corporal Drown, 23, from Spring, Texas, joined the Marine Corps March 2, 2011.
Corporal Drown’s decorations include the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
Cpl. Matthew R. Drown, 23, Houston, Texas, HMH-463
Cpl. Thomas J. Jardas served as a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter crew chief with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing stationed on Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Corporal Jardas, 22, from Ft. Myers, Florida, joined the Marine Corps May 6, 2011.
Corporal Jardas’ decorations include the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.
Cpl. Thomas J. Jardas, 22, Fort Myers, Florida, HMH-463
Cpl. Christopher J. Orlando served as a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter crew chief with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing stationed on Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Corporal Orlando, 23, from Hingham, Massachusetts, joined the Marine Corps Aug. 9, 2012.
Corporal Orlando’s decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.
Cpl. Christopher J. Orlando
Lance Cpl. Ty L. Hart served as a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter crew chief with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing stationed on Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Lance Corporal Hart, 21, from Aumsville, Oregon, joined the Marine Corps Aug, 8 2012.
Lance Corporal Hart’s decorations include the National Defense Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
Lance Cpl. Ty L. Hart, 21, Stayton, Oregon, HMH-463
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Marines and their families as we all mourn this tragic loss of life,” the U.S. Marines posted online. “The Marine Corps is focused on taking care of our Marines and their families. One way we ensure families receive everything they need is to keep them personally updated in the aftermath of this incident. We ask that media please respect their privacy during this challenging time.”
