Fathers, uncle of Marines killed in California helicopter crash talk out: ‘Must no longer have came about’

Two fathers and the uncle of 3 of 5 Marines killed in a helicopter crash throughout a hurricane in Southern California this week are lamenting their deaths as avoidable. 

“Perhaps that is the only example to the place they wake the f— up they usually say, ‘What are we doing to our carrier participants? We’ve were given to prevent this,'” Steven Langen, father of Sgt. Alec Langen, 23, informed the New York Submit on Saturday. 

Sgt. Alec Langen used to be serving as group leader at the CH-53E Tremendous Stallion helicopter when it crashed within the mountains close to San Diego on Tuesday night time. 

Steven Langen known as their deaths, “an all too acquainted tale within the army neighborhood.”

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Bradford Moulton, whose nephew used to be Capt. Benjamin Moulton, 27, mentioned he wanted the lads would had been stored “at the flooring” throughout the “thousand-year hurricane” after they have been flying from Creech Air Power Base in Nevada to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar close to San Diego on a regimen coaching workout.

“They’re Marines, they fly in nasty climate, they do what they’re meant to do,” he informed the Submit, “however I certain want the operations officer would have stored them at the flooring.” Moulton used to be one in all two pilots at the helicopter. 

Gregory Davis, a retired naval aviation officer and Lance Cpl. Donovan Davis’ father said, “Now not handiest did it no longer must occur, it must no longer have came about.” 

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Davis, 21, additionally served as a group leader at the helicopter. 

He added of his son, “He used to be so proud to be a Marine, he beloved his task, he beloved what he did. “We’re happy with Donovan and the whole thing he used to be ready to perform in his quick 21 years.” 

Langen mentioned the one factor his son requested for on his seventeenth birthday used to be to enlist within the Marines. “The following factor you understand, (there’s) a knock on the door. And there’s the Marine recruiter this is status there,” he remembered. 

Moulton shared that Benjamin used to be decided on his occupation objectives. “He used to be going to be a Marine pilot it doesn’t matter what,” he mentioned. The 27-year-old used to be a pilot at the helicopter in conjunction with Capt. Jack Casey, 26, who used to be additionally killed within the crash. 

Capt. Miguel Nava, 28, used to be the 5th sufferer within the crash. 

“Miguel used to be the kindest soul you’d ever meet,” a fundraising web page for his circle of relatives mentioned of him. “His heat, sure power, and compassion might be neglected through all who have been thankful to understand him.” 

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Lt. Col. Nicholas J. Harvey, commanding officer of the Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 (HMH-361), mentioned of the 5 Marines after the crash: “We’ve been faced with a tragedy this is each and every carrier circle of relatives’s worst concern. Our best precedence now could be supporting the households of our fallen heroes, and we ask to your admire and figuring out as they grieve. The Flying Tigers circle of relatives stands robust and comprises the buddies and neighborhood who’ve supported our squadron throughout this difficult time. We can get via this in combination.”

The final identified touch with the Tremendous Stallion used to be at about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, when waves of downpours and snow have been hitting the area throughout an “atmospheric river.”

The CH-53E Tremendous Stallion is the most important helicopter within the army and is designed to fly via unhealthy climate, even at night time.

The reason for the crash is recently below investigation.

A U.S. army CV-22 Osprey takes to the air from Iwakuni base, Yamaguchi prefecture, western Japan. The Osprey fleet used to be grounded in December after 8 Air Power carrier participants have been killed in a crash off Japan.  (Kyodo Information by the use of AP / Record)

Davis enlisted within the Marine Corps on Sept. 3, 2019, and used to be promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal on Jan. 1 of this 12 months. His decorations come with the World Conflict on Terrorism Carrier Medal, the Nationwide Protection Carrier Medal and a Sea Carrier Deployment Ribbon.

Langen enlisted within the Marine Corps on Sept. 14, 2017, and used to be promoted to the rank of Sergeant on Oct. 1, 2022. His decorations come with the Army and Marine Corps Fulfillment Medal, Just right Behavior Medal, World Conflict on Terrorism Carrier Medal, Nationwide Protection Carrier Medal and two Sea Carrier Deployment Ribbons.

Moulton used to be commissioned into the Marine Corps on March 29, 2019, and used to be promoted to the rank of Captain on Aug. 1, 2023. His decorations come with the Nationwide Protection Carrier Medal.

In the meantime, Casey used to be commissioned within the Marine Corps on Would possibly 16, 2019, and used to be promoted to the rank of Captain on Sept. 1, 2023. His decorations come with the Nationwide Protection Carrier Medal.

Nava used to be commissioned into the Marine Corps on Would possibly 26, 2017, and used to be promoted to the rank of Captain on Nov. 1, 2021. His decorations come with the World Conflict on Terrorism Carrier Medal, Nationwide Protection Carrier Medal and Sea Carrier Deployment Ribbon.

The doorway to Marine Corps base Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, Calif. (AP Picture / Gregory Bull / Record)

In December, a Marine used to be killed and 14 others injured in a coaching crash at Camp Pendleton in Southern California when a tactical car rolled over. 

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Final November, 5 Military particular operations squaddies have been killed in a coaching “mishap” when their helicopter crashed into the Mediterranean and 8 Air Power carrier participants died in an Osprey crash off the coast of Japan when the plane suffered a mechanical failure. 

The Osprey fleet has been grounded because the crash because the Air Power weighs when it is protected to go back to carrier. 

The Marines didn’t instantly reply to Fox Information Virtual’s Saturday night request for remark. 

Fox Information Virtual’s Michael Dorgan contributed to this record.