CAMP BASTIAN, Afghanistan – The Marines of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363 filled the pews of a small chapel at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, today to bid farewell to six fallen brothers, including a Willis High School graduate.
In a somber scene, coalition forces gathered to memorialize the six Marines with the squadron who died Thursday when their CH-53D Sea Stallion heavy-lift helicopter crashed supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
Photo Courtesy of DVIDS
Sgt. Maj. Mitchell Green holds the dog tags of a fallen Marine today as he pays his respects to his comrades during a ceremony at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan. Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363 provided a ceremony to honor six Marines who were killed Thursday when their CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopter crashed conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Among those killed was Cpl. Joseph D. Logan, of Willis, a 2008 Willis High School graduate
During the ceremony’s final roll call, Sgt. Maj. Mitchell Green, the squadron’s sergeant major, called the names of the fallen – Capt. Daniel B. Bartle, a native of Ferndale, Wash.; Capt. Nathan R. McHone, from Crystal Lake, Ill.; Master Sgt. Travis Riddick, a native of Centerville, Iowa; Cpl. Joseph D. Logan, of Willis, Texas; Cpl. Kevin J. Reinhard, from Colonia, N.J.; and Cpl. Jesse W. Stites, who grew up in Roxana, Ill., and Interlachen, Fla.
"It is difficult to be here, easier to suppress our emotions and move on with our daily routine,” Lt. Col. Mark Revor, commanding officer of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363, said in his remarks at the ceremony. “It is difficult because they were more than friends, more than family – they were our brothers and our comrades.”
Logan, 22, was an aerial observer who joined Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363 in May, according to a release from the Marine Corps Base in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. Logan enlisted in the Marine Corps in November 2008, only months after graduating from Willis High School. This was his second deployment to Afghanistan, according to the press release.
A few hundred yards from the chapel, outside the squadron’s hangar, the American flag flew at half-staff beside the squadron’s sign depicting their logo “The Lucky Red Lions.”
“It’s hard to feel lucky today, but I know that I could not describe ([i)] better than to say I was lucky to serve with these men, lucky to have known them as well as I did,” Revor said, “and I will be lucky indeed if I can brighten the days and nights of my friends the way that they brightened mine.”
The squadron, deployed from Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, wields CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopters to provide heavy-lift capability to 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), moving cargo and troops across the battle space.
As the aviation combat element for the southwestern regional command of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) offers air support for coalition forces operating in Helmand and Nimruz provinces.
The Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363 deployed in August for a seven-month tour to Afghanistan’s southern Hemland province in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, said 1st Lt. Diann Olson, media office of the Marine Corps Base in Hawaii. This is the first casualty for Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363, which includes about 200 Marines and sailors.
When the squadron returns from its deployment in the spring, another memorial service will be scheduled at Marine Corps Base Hawaii for the families, Marines and sailors of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363, Olson said.
Logan’s awards and honors include an Air Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and NATO ISAF Medal, The Courier previously reported.
Logan is survived by his wife, parents and siblings.
The family was unavailable for comment. Over the weekend, they went to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to accept Logan’s body.
No funeral arrangements for Logan have been announced.
While Thursday’s crash is currently under investigation, NATO officials said there were no signs of enemy activity in the area at the time of the incident.
“Every Marine in this squadron understands the dangers of our job, but that doesn’t make it any easier when something like this happens,” Green said. “People are shocked, people are upset and people are hurt. We still have a mission to do, and it’s not done until we’re heading back home to Hawaii.”
The majority of this story was provided to The Courier by the Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System, which is a state-of-the-art, 24/7 operation that provides a timely, accurate and reliable connection between the media around the world and the military serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain, according to www.dvidshub.net.
