US COAST GUARD/REUTERS U.S. Marines walk the beach outside the Haleiwa Incident Command Post in Haleiwa, Hawaii, during search efforts for their 12 missing comrades on Monday.
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“Our hearts go out to the loved ones and family members of 12 Marines missing since an apparent helicopter collision off the coast of Hawaii last week”, Carter said in a statement.
The status of the missing Marines was changed to deceased on Wednesday, officials said, after five days of search efforts. The families of the Marines have been notified of the status change.
A witness on January 14 saw a fireball in midair; another reported seeing a flare.
Authorities were alerted when the CH-53E helicopters carrying six crew members each failed to return to their base at Kaneohe Bay following a nighttime training mission.
The Marines were full of “joy and hope” and showed a willingness to “train at any time” that contributed to the defense of the United States, Purcell said.
The helicopters did not have voice recorders or other devices to provide highly detailed information about the crash, which means investigators will have to painstakingly piece together much of the debris.
“This is a tragic loss of 12 Marines from all over our great country and whose lives were filled with promise”, said Senator Brian Schatz.
The uncle of Minnesota native Sgt. Dillon J. Semolina said the 24-year-old wants to be a Registered Nurse when he leaves the Marines.
A memorial for the Marines will be held Friday at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, starting at 10 a.m. The memorial is not open to the public, but Hawaii News Now will live-stream the gathering.
Schoeller, who was native to an area of Cumberland County just over the Adams County line, graduated from Boiling Springs High School in 2008, according to a news release from Michelle Grochalski, vice president of Benefit Connections and close family friend.
Sergeant. 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.
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Ty Hart, who grew up in Stayton, Oregon.
