It is our sad duty today to remember 16 of our finest service members who died in the United States Marine Corps KC-130 crash which occurred on Monday, July 10, 2017 in Mississippi. It is the deadliest plane crash for the Marines since 2005. These are the men who have joined the ranks of our fallen:
Corporal Daniel I. Baldassare– tribute by True Blue Majority
Daniel I. Baldassare grew up in Colts Neck, New Jersey, a township in the greater NYC metropolitan area with two lane roads, beautiful homes on large acreage lots, equestrian facilities, and easy access to the Jersey Shore.
His parents and sister requested privacy and did not want to speak with the press.
Childhood friend Ryan McGowan grew up on the same block with him and they attended school together. “Dan told us in about middle school that he wanted to become a Marine. He was a patriot and all he wanted to do was serve our country. Everyone had a lot of respect for Dan," McGowan said.
Neighbor Rosalind Innucci cried as she remembered the last time she saw Baldassare alive, regretting she had never thanked him for his service: "We're just devastated. The whole block is devastated. I'm sure all of Colts Neck is devastated."
Baldassare was the crewmaster of the transport plane, which was based out of Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York. He was only 20 years old. ~source ~source
Staff Sergeant Robert H. Cox - tribute by maggiejean
Staff Sgt Robert H. Cox, age 28, of Ventura, CA began his Marine Corps career 10 years ago this month. He was with the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion and was deployed overseas four times. He was a critical skills operator and was stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
He studied anthropology at a community college and focused on Arabic during a military course that he completed in 2015. He was a critical skills operator, or elite commando.
~ Source
Captain Sean E. Elliott– tribute by maggiejean
Capt. Elliott, 30 from Orange, California was one of the plane’s pilots. A tennis standout known for his “booming” serve graduated from the University of California, Davis in 2009 with a degree in civil engineering. He received his USMC call sign “Puffin” when on a stopover in Iceland he refused to hunt the nesting and defenseless birds.
“He was always looking out for others, starting with me, but continuing with his fraternity brothers and his Marines” — brother Erik Elliott
Capt Sean E. Elliott’s awards and decorations include Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal; Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (2); Korean Defense Service Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (2); Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Letter of Appreciation (2). ~ source
Major Caine M.Goyette– tribute by JaxDem
The CD-130 Aircraft Commander, Goyette was from Waterford, New York. He enlisted in 1994 and deployed a total of four times during his career. He earned a dual engineering degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and achieved the rank of Major in 2012.
Major Goyette lived with his family on a farm in Southern Albany, New York. His awards and decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal; Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. ~source ~source
Gunnery Sergeant Mark A. Hopkins– tribute by SisTwo
Hopkins was born in Michigan, raised in Chesapeake, Virginia and was living near the airbase in New York with his family. He is described as being spiritual and someone who lived life to its fullest.
Hopkins joined the Marines when he was 18, on September 4, 2001, just days before the terror attack. Nicknamed “Hoppy,” his deployments included a tour in Okinawa from 2004 to 2006.
He is survived by his mother; three siblings; his wife, Patricia; and his three young children. ~ Source
Sergeant Chad E. Jenson– tribute by maggiejean
Sgt. Chad E. Jenson, age 25, of Redondo Beach, CA was a member of the 2nd Raider Battalion, Special Operations Command based at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.
He was a Mira Costa High School graduate who helped lead his Manhattan Beach football team to a championship in 2009.
Sgt. Jensen is survived by his wife of eight months, Jessica, and a stepson, according to his Facebook page and his friends.
~ Source
Gunnery Sergeant Brendan C. Johnson– tribute by SisTwo
Brendan Johnson joined the Marines in 1994, after graduating from Johnson State College in Vermont as a fine arts major. He loved to paint and continued to do so during his spare time. He once surprised the family with portraits he painted based on old pictures of his grandfather and father-in-law.
Throughout his career he flew to Europe, Africa, and South Asia, as well as the war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He was 46 and had planned on retiring next year and moving to his wife’s home state of Montana. He loved the outdoors and was considering a job as a park ranger or a game warden. ~ Source
Sergeant Julian M. Kevianne– tribute by SisTwo
Julian Kevianne, a Detroit native, joined the Marines in 2009 because he wanted to protect and defend our nation.
He studied Mechanical Engineering at Michigan Technological University and was a former C-130 Crewmaster for the Marine Corps
Kevianne, a flight engineer, was based at Stewart and lived with his wife Sherry Jennings-Kevianne in New Windsor, New York.
~ Source
Staff Sergeant William Kundrat– tribute by SisTwo
Known as “Billy Joe”, William Kundrat graduated in 2002 from Governor Thomas Johnson High School in Frederick, where he played football and lacrosse. He also was an Eagle Scout.
After graduation, he joined the Marines, like his father had. In 2004, Kundrat married classmate Ashley Cregger, and they lived in Holly Ridge, North Carolina, and had two children together.
Kundrat served in Iraq and then joined the Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command 2nd Marine Raider battalion stationed at Camp Lejeune. He was 33 years old. ~ Source
Sergeant Talon R. Leach– tribute by JaxDem
Talon, who was 27, grew up in Fulton, Missouri. He joined the US Marine Corps in 2010 after his graduation from North Callaway High School. He was assigned to the 2nd Raider Battalion at Camp Lejeune.
Sgt Leach was due to come home on leave in December and had plans to do some deer hunting with his father. He leaves behind his wife, parents and several siblings. His awards and decorations include Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; National Defense Service Medal.
His father, Tab told reporters "Who wouldn't be proud of their son for the ultimate sacrifice?" ~source
Sergeant Owen J. Lennon– tribute by JaxDem
Sergeant Lennon, 26, was from Rockland County, New York.
In his life before the Marine Corps, Sergeant Lennon was a football and tennis player who imagined a career in criminal justice. But once he was in the military, his mother told a neighbor in Pomona, N.Y., Jeff Scheer, he picked up an interest in mechanics and intended to work in aviation mechanics after finishing his service. “You may have been the youngest,” his sister, Kelly, posted on Facebook, “but we always looked up to you. Our hero, Owen Lennon.” ~ source
Petty Officer Second Class Ryan Lohrey– tribute by JaxDem
PO2 Lohrey, 30 from Middletown, Indiana was a standout football player and golfer at Shenandoah High School. Lohrey enlisted in the Navy following his 2005 graduation.
Ryan married in June and had two children from an earlier marriage. He served two previous tours with USMC Special Forces units, one each in Iraq and Afghanistan. PO2 Lohrey served as their corpsman known informally as a Devil Doc. He earned a Purple Heart when he was wounded during one of those deployments. “He was loved by all who knew him”. ~source
Sergeant Joseph J. Murray– tribute by JaxDem
Born in Texas, Sgt Murray’s family moved to Jacksonville, Florida when he was ten. A 2009 graduate of Sandalwood High School, he enjoyed surfing and playing the ukulele. Joseph, 26 was married with children aged 5, 3 and a set of 1 year old twins. He was a committed Christian devoted to his family and faith.
Sgt Murray’s fellow Marines told his family that Joseph hummed praise songs constantly on patrol and when Joseph stopped singing praises, they took their safeties off their weapons, because they immediately feared something was wrong. ~ source
Corporal Collin J. Schaaff – tribute by JaxDem
Collin was 22 and from Pierce, Washington. He graduated from Pierce High School in 2013 where he was a member of the Air Force ROTC and participated in a national drill team. He entered the USMC immediately following graduation. Cpl Schaaff was serving as an Aircraft Ordinance Technician.
His awards and decorations include Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Letter of Appreciation (2); and Certificate of Commendation (Individual Award).
Corporal Collin J. Schaaff was married with one daughter aged 1 and another daughter due in November. ~ source ~ source
Sergeant Dietrich A. Schmieman – tribute by JaxDem
Dietrich was 26 from Benton County, Washington. He graduated from Hanford High School where he enjoyed camping and skiing. Sgt Schmieman enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2010 and was attached to the 2nd Raider Battalion Special Operations Command.
Sgt Schmieman's prior command was with the Reconnaissance Unit. He served in Operation Enduring Freedom from September 2010 - March 2011and again from January 2012 - July 2012.
His awards and decorations include Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2); Maine Corps Good Conduct Medal (2); Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (3); Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation; Certificate of Appreciation; Letter of Appreciation (3). ~ source ~ source
Staff Sergeant Joshua Snowden– tribute by SisTwo
Staff Sgt. Joshua Snowden, a flight engineer on the transport plane, grew up in Texas and graduated from Highland Park High School in 2004, having already signed up for the Marines.
The 31-year-old worked as a flight engineer on the KC-130and was preparing to celebrate his 32 birthday on July 22. He was proud of his roots and was a big fan of the Dallas Cowboys.
~ Source
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Helping our troops:
If you wish to assist our military and their families, consider contributing to Fisher House. To assist the animal companions of our deployed military, information is available here.
When our veterans come back home, they need jobs. Look at the programs of Hire Heroes USA and Welcome Back Veterans to see if you can help out.
About the IGTNT series:
”I Got the News Today” is a diary series intended to honor, respect, and remember the fallen, and to remind us that each casualty has family and friends who received the terrible news that their loved one has died. US service members whose names have been released by the US Department of Defense will usually be diarized two days or so after the official announcement on the DoD website. This allows the IGTNT team to cover each person more fully, but still in a timely manner. Click the #IGTNT tag to see previous diaries in the series, which was begun by i dunno, and is maintained by i dunno, Sandy on Signal, Monkeybiz, Noweasels, Blue Jersey Mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, SisTwo, Spam Nunn, True Blue Majority, CalNM, Wide Awake in Kentucky, maggiejean, Jax Dem, The Fat Lady Sings, Ekaterin, & Joy of Fishes. These diaries are heartbreaking to write, but show our community’s respect for those who have died.
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Please bear in mind that these diaries are read by friends and family of the service members mentioned here. May all of our remembrances be full of compassion rather than politics.