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Subscribe to RSSSeven Marines died when their helicopters collided in midair Wednesday night around the Arizona-California border. There were no survivors. NBC's Jim Miklaszewski reports.
Seven Marines died when their helicopters collided in midair Wednesday night around the Arizona-California border, defense officials told NBC News, after a number of recent training fatalities. There were no survivors.
The Marines, six stationed at Camp Pendleton in California and one in Yuma, Ariz., were conducting a routine training exercise at about 8 p.m. local time when their AH-1W "Cobra" and UH-1Y "Huey" helicopters collided, Marine officials said.
The crash occurred about two miles west of the Yuma Training Range Complex on federal land, Maj. Carl Redding, director of public affairs, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, wrote on his twitter account. The cause of the incident was under investigation.
"We fly every single day for the most part and, you know, relatively mishap free so it’s ... one of those rare and unfortunate occurrences that took place last night," said Cpl. Steven Posey of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing in Miramar in Southern California.
Two Marines were on one of the helicopters, while five were on the other, Marine Capt. Staci Reidinger told KYMA-TV. The helicopters were based out of Camp Pendleton.
The identities of the Marines killed have not been released pending formal notification of next of kin.
The incident comes after a number of training fatalities in recent years. Last September, two Marines died when their AH-1W Super Cobra helicopter went down in Camp Pendleton, according to the Marine Corps Times. And in July, a Marine sergeant was killed in the crash of a UH-1Y Huey helicopter, also at Camp Pendleton, while five others onboard were injured, the Marine Corps Times reported.
Msnbc.com's Miranda Leitsinger contributed to this story.
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Didn't an event similar to this happen a few months ago..why do people keep dying in these training exercises?
training can be as dangerous as the real thing; otherwise, training is a simulated computer game. Depends on the exact training mission, or could have been a malfunction in one of the choppers. Either way, really tragic :(
I agree, sad sad situation.
Because it is the military, and they training for war. They need to perform maneuvers (over and over again) to prepare for what they would in do during wartime situations. So there will be aircraft in close proximity to one another, for said maneuvers. They train this way so when performing during war time, which is obviously much more hectic, the pilots don't make errors, in flight, resulting in even more fatalities. Accidents are always bound to happen, especially when training in the military.
Copter malfunction or engine problems. Either way I lower my flag in respect of their souls.
it's a shame lives were lost - period (soldier or otherwise)
thoughts and prayers with their family and loved ones
why they die during training? they train to avoid such and other incidents. A trainee must be aware at all times even if you are not in charge or the trainer. Take things serious especialy cause there is where you will learn or not for an actual situation. You can apply this in your own environment so your neighborhood can benifit. Lets take it one step further , The Spirit realm , same thing.
Calm Seas and Prevailing Winds, Ooh-RAH!
Semper Fi my fellow Marines.
Semper Fi to my warrior brothers!!
Sadly training is as real life as it can be. The fact is the Military is a dangerous place to work at war or being razor sharp for when the President calls. Be sharp at all times or die. That simple.
I'm a retired Army 1SG and I don't understand why the Marines are given hand-me-down equipment when they are the first to be in the battlefield. Stuck with outdated Cobra and Huey helicopters is one of the main reasons this happened. The only new equipment these Marines had was probably some night vision devices which everyone wears these days. 7 Marines died for no good reason. Our DOD is doing a terrible job equipping our front line defenses. Put them in Apaches and Black-hawks at the minimum. Why not train with the Osprey. Our country and our government is a joke.
Because training for the real world has it's dangers.
they should go to train in russia or iran :)
I think that accidents like these are a result of human error and some of the military's equipment is either aging or not properly maintained.
This is not true and is a very old and tired idea that should have been put to rest years ago. The Marines use versions of both the Cobra and Huey that were never purchased by the Army and both helicopters are still in production and are not considered "outdated". The Marines use the "Super Cobra" a twin engine version of the Cobra that was never purchased by the Army. It is still in production today and being sold to military forces around the world. Ditto with the Huey used by the Marines it is a twin engined version that was never purchased by the Army. In fact, the Marines and Navy generally have a policy of using twin engines on their aircraft as they fly over water so it is rare for the Army and Marines to use simiar aircraft. PS, I am retired Army myself so spare me the riff about "how do you know".
As for the Marines and thir families, I mourn the loss of brothers in arms....
I can't tell if that was sarcasm or what. Hey Sam were you ever in the military? If your comment was an attempt at humor, Im not laughing. The marines who have died for our country deserve better than smart ass remarks and stupid people. I personally was in the USAF in the 70's. Not glamorous, not a hero. Just a 18 year old kid that thought it was a way to pay for college. There are real heros out there risking their lives every day for us. I wish them well. I wish them safe.
The military is a dangerous endeavor even in peace time. If you think jumping out of airplanes, swimming in alligator infested swamps or open oceans and so many other tasks that these folks train in daily, it is not your usual day at the office.
Damn it, another. And Obama wants to cut the budget for R and D? Whose side is he on?
These men will get the full and same honors as those who have given their lives on the battle field. They have earned it. Brave and Noble Men of courage. Lord Bless Them and their families.
The men who never receive the recognition and never will are those of our "covert and intelligence" groups. We never even learn their names. They too have died in the service of our Nation.
bigdaddysdawg post 2.16, I caught it too; the comment by SAM-3139134 2.13 I think he is a stupid smart ass. I think we should track the little prick down and beat his ass. Are you with me?
R & D will never make up for human error.
The Marine Corps is under funded for their mission, they are given second rate equipment for a first rate responsibility, some times the equipment they are given to use is junk that the army discards, the Marines train hard and are the loyalist troops we have its a shame they are not properly equiped, when you tell your superiors its not working right they say improvise, improvise is a common word in the Marine Corps, you do allot of improvising. RIP brothers "Semper fi".
Chris, I can agree with you in part but not all the way, the Marines do have to watch their budget more than the other branches of the military, when I was in we salvaged everything we could from Army bone yards, some times the Marines are the first to use the new equipment but the last to have it as standard issue, its common for Marines to get used equipment when the Army is getting all new, just being in the Army doesn't make you an expert on the Marines, I know they are better then they were in my day but when I talk with to days Marines, they still have some of the same problems with some of their equipment (used parts) and its a shame because they are over all very good troops, and deserve good equipment. thank you for your service. All of our armed forces deserve the best. its the least we can do for the risk they face.
Our forces train under conditions that are as real to war as is possible, it has to be that way and even in training there are risk, the harder the training the more the risk. I'm surprised we don't see more accidents then we do.
The 2012 budget has a 1.415 trillion dollar budget for defense related spending, which includes military, veteran, intelligence and Homeland Security initiatives.
william whittemore- Thank you. Someone who knows the lowdown & isn't afraid to speak. Chris, you are wrong William is right. My son, USMC, deploys tomorrow for Afghanistan and do you know want we bought him for Christmas? Magpuls, 2 different speaker radios for his shoulder, gps gear, belts for rpg rounds, and other tactical equipment the military should be supplying Marines but aren't. Or they supply cheap versions that may fail in battle. Do you think we spent hundredssssss of dollars on he equipment had? The Marines get 1st rate training and little else.
My condolences to the families of these brave men. God bless.
R and D doesn't automatically make @!$%#ty old helicopters safer. The reason the R and D budget is being cut, or at least should be cut, is because the government is wasting our money on @!$%# like the F22 - the single biggest waste of tax payer money ever except for the 16 trillion dollars they just printed, money that we now owe to the Federal Reserve that was never ours and never existed in the first place.
What they need to be spending money on is properly armoring our vehicles, properly equipping our soldiers with modern, up-to-date, battle-tested equipment. Researching and choosing a newer, more reliable weapons system than the M16. More advanced and reliable and more efficient UAVs. Not lining the pockets of defense contractors with tax-payer dollars so that they can continue to rake in profits while not delivering one single successful product.
Not investing in the archaic concept of a missile defense shield - not spending money on domestic anti-terrorist propaganda that indoctrinates the people against each other, showing historically inaccurate images of American citizens leaving bomb briefcases in airports and MTA stations. Not the F22 when foreign fighters have already surpassed us while we focus on the same failed design.
About as many get hurt while training for sports as playing. Added to that, helicopters are more dangerous than cars. Marines get killed in many kinds of training.
IWonder how you can be so callous.
Try defuseing a landmine, in a cornfield, and you don't know where it is. You poke the ground with your puny knife to find it, then you must pick up this bomb full of shrapenel, open it up, and take the charge out. How many marines sprain their ankles after running their ten miles in the morning? Helicopters are the most difficult vehicle the armed forces have to use, and think of the VTOL Ospery! They were using old helicopters from the sixties, wearing hand-me-down low-light goggles, at six in the morning. I am sure you can't walk, let alone fly a helicopter, at six.
My deepest respects for these marines. They died in honor, for you. The least you could do is understand their last momments.
Try defuseing a landmine, in a cornfield, and you don't know where it is. You poke the ground with your puny knife to find it, then you must pick up this bomb full of shrapenel, open it up, and take the charge out. How many marines sprain their ankles after running their ten miles in the morning? Helicopters are the most difficult vehicle the armed forces have to use, and think of the VTOL Ospery! They were using old helicopters from the sixties, wearing hand-me-down low-light goggles, at six in the morning. I am sure you can't walk, let alone fly a helicopter, at six.
My deepest respects for these marines. They died in honor, for you. The least you could do is understand their last momments.
Sad to see this loss.
A lot is being said about the capability of these aircraft involved. The Huey and Cobra are both old platforms, but as crhis (above) pointed out, are still in production under various contracts of Bell. These birds (and I especially am convinced of the Huey) share very little in common with the previous model it replaced, other than basic fuselage shape. There's a distinct possibility the frame may have some original components, but probably very little. I trusted my life to older H-models for over 20 years and have full faith in Bell. If any component of the aircraft failed, I'd be willing to bet it's the result of a newer aircraft that doesn't have the bugs worked out yet. Helicopters are notorious for that. But I doubt mechanical failure was it.
Once again, I'm sorry to here this news.
As some misinformed people have mentioned claiming these aircraft are old and outdated in comparison to the modern UH60 Black hawk, this is pure misconception. While the design may be dated the aircraft have all modern upgrades and power plants and perform very well under the harsh conditions Marines encounter. In addition they are capable of storage and operation from ship deck platforms where the UH60 is not suited.
If you care to check and look at photos of army helicopters of similiar make you will see only one exhaust vent just below and to the rear of the rotor base. This is because the army aircraft had only one power plant and lacked the power and performance the Marines demand (kind of like their soldiers).
The Marine aircraft you will observe two exhaust openings for the dual power plants consisting of 02 general electric T700-401 engines to provide the lift and power for sea born operations.
These are quality aircraft suited for the mission of the Marine Corps.
Unfortunately these training accidents occur because the Marines train hard and as realistic to combat conditions as you can in preperation for combat deployments.
As any pilot will admitt close formation low level flying at night is difficult and dangerous.
GOD Bless the Corps....Semper Fi.
Well said, thank you.
Condolences to the Families.
This will happen as we Train as we will Fight, especially the Joint US Military Asymmetric Warfare Forces having to train with all Branches (why I have four branches sets of uniforms, plus the ones (tan, and winter whites) that we actually use here at Afghanistan).
However, pertaining to US Military Equipment. It has always been a fact that the USMC ends up with hand me downs. While training with the USMC, we always used to joke that we were the Redheaded B*stard Children of the USN.
That baloney about Sea Cobras, Sea Hueys, being current Platforms or that the UH-60s and AH-64 are not compatible is just that baloney. example: Just like we use the MH-60 as also used by the USN as the MH-60, SH-60 and HH-60. The UH -60s were specifically made to be crash survivable. In our case our supporting 160th SOAR MH-60s, MH-47s also have collision avoidance gear (also anti aircraft missile detection), this gear is not common in Sea Cobras and Sea Hueys. The real reason why the USMC got stuck with the Cobras and Hueys was Politics, Money and some decisions the USMC made a long time ago.
Do you even have any idea WHY they were doing that? If you ever need your arse rescued you can sit on something and rotate. We practice a "Lock In" so that we can be flown in "dangling" from a helicopter, and suddenly there are 6-8 of us in one stick on a roof coming thru the ceiling or blowing down a door or creating a hole in the wall coming to rescue your arse. You tell me which is safer reaching out and grabbing a slick rope in combat at night and sliding about 20 to 50 feet down one at a time, or "dangling" from a rope then running off after releasing your "lock in", and don't say neither we are talking about time as a determining factor of life or death for both the rescuers and those being rescued.
semper fi, sons of liberty; my sincere condolences to their families who may never know the real truth behind the tragedy. i know many of you have heard it before, but it bears repeating: 3 times more marines die in non-combat situations such as bar fights, drunk driving, domestic violence, and suicide, according to my son's CO. what we do know for a fact is that our government is not responsible for the actions of their "employees" when they kill each other "on duty", even if it is "human error" and the pilot carelessly (or intentionally) flies into anything, or if it is "mechanical error" and they are "on duty", the government is still not responsible. google the "feres doctrine" the most unfairest doctrine of all. while there are valid reasons for this "doctrine", too often it is used as a security blanket for incompetence. one other thing we know for sure, if it were multi-million dollar choppers, or other military equipment "dying" at a 3-to-1 ratio heads would be rolling, a congressional investigation would be called for, and someone would have to answer for their crime$. moral of the story, "marines die, it's what they do willingly, it is never anyone's fault or responsibility" and our children are just pawns in a multi-billion dollar war-for-oil game.
Harry Mexican, It is painfully obvious to me that you don't know your ass from a hole in the ground when it comes to what US Military forces do or why they do it. I suspect you're nothing more than a troll who gets his jollies the only way he can ... alone and in a closet. Go somewhere else and jack off you @!$%#ing moron.
salute them
Simper Fi brothers.
It's "Semper" not Simper. DA!
Ok there spelling nazi, ease up it's still early in the morning :-p
It's one letter. Who cares...
It's the message that matters, not the spelling. RIP, and thank you for your service.
I have to disagree, in this case the spelling does make a huge difference. Simper means to "smile in a silly manner", not exactly appropriate. It is very tragic, my deepest sympathies.
My deepest sympathy to the families and extreme appreciation to the Marines.
@SwellSurfer88 - One letter can make a LOT of difference. You should look up the words "simper" and "semper". There is quite a difference!! I don't think Marines are trained to simper.
My apologizes. I made a typo. JFC! Sorry if I offended y'all. Y'all need to get over yourselves.
SEMPER FI.
(Oh and Early, I don't take kindly to you calling me a Dumb Ass either.)
We're all Marines in arms, but, we are still human,and are prone to making mistakes Semper Fi to all Marines. And I will pray for my brothers, alive or dead. The Corps was the best thing that happened to me.
I served with the 3rd Marine Airwing back in the 70s. After that I drove truck over the road and one problem we had to deal with was the faceless CB tough guy. These losers would bad mouth other drivers over the CB for no particular reason at all. They would say things with false bravado that they would never say to a mans face. The reason for my post is that I see a lot of the same thing here. The only difference is that the CB has been exchanged for the PC. When it does happen, I just take it with a grain of salt and smile. Just know one thing; The complete disrespect you may receive on a blog would never happen face to face and definitely not to a Marine. My heart and prayers go out to the fallen Marines and their families. May St. Michael be with all of are soldiers here and abroad. Semper Fi.
@Early Grayce,
Why would you bother to post that? Really why? Seven Marines lost their lives and you act like this thread is a spelling Bee....Get a life please..
The 1 thing that is important here, is that 7 Marines lost their lives.. My brother is in the Marines stationed in CA, and is doing training Right now, gettting ready for his 2nd time to Afghanistan in April, very scary hearing this today!!! Thoughts and prayers to the families!!
Sounds like they should stop using the UH-1Y Huey and make a better helicopter.
The CORPS, The CORPS, The CORPS!
If you want to get technical it's sic semper fidelis, yet every marine and wannabe who thinks they know what semper fidelis means wants to pronounce it "semper feye".
Asfranko you are mistaken. People aren't afraid of marines - that's our right as Americans to not fear our military or our police. People like you who think anyone is, or should be, afraid of them, are one of the 10,000 problems in this country, and you need to shut up. I will gladly say that to your face and you're welcome to fight me - you'll likely win if you're a marine, and you'll definitely get arrested and/or shot if you make me.
Just so ya know, I became a Marine in July of 1993. I know exactly what is means.
This is from the Marine.com by the way just in case you thought you knew what it meant.
Well sad for familys.....
I would say one pilot or both did not say what they were doing or not saying I will go left no matter it should not have happen!
I spent two years in UH-1H helos in Vietnam and even in training we never go that close to hit each other!
it has to be pilots not knowing what the other was going to do?????
We may never know sad very sad!
Could it be possible that something happened to one of the helicopter's,and not necessarily either pilots fault? You seem to be blaming the pilots when the article does not give enough info about the crash. I'm not a pilot so i don't know for sure, I am a retired mechanic though and have seen many times where vehicular failure was the culprit. Just a thought......
Why do people start hypothesising with no information? I was always told to hold my tongue until I knew some facts to base my opinions/judgements/recommendations on.
Eric - Sage advice that a lot of people really need to listen to... including the media.
My condolences to the families.
When I was stationed at Ft. Campbell, KY, I once came home to a near-hysterical wife, because I was unaware that while I had been out repelling from helicopters that day, another group doing the same kind of exercises had two of their helicopters crash with multiple casualties. They didn't give much detail, etc. on the news, since it had just happened, so all my wife knew was that a number of guys died doing what I was doing that day, & thought I might have been on that flight. My son has already had co-workers/friends in his unit die in accidents and in action (a sad thing considering he's so young). It's one of the really hard parts of the job, having to deal with accidents, death, and just "not knowing".
All I know for sure is that there are some pretty rugged mountains in some of the areas around MCAS Yuma, and flying can be difficult at times, and that regardless of the explanation, it's still a sad thing.
The Yuma training area is very unforgiving. With it's mountain ranges and deep valleys, radio contact is very hard to maintain and radar control/oversight is almost impossible...
Our squadron never lost a aircraft there, but many others did. One incident had two CH-46s collide, cutting one in half, and the pilots and crew chief survived. The pilots landed the front half and the crew chief was saved by his crew belt. The other aircraft was lost with the crew and several observers in the back. The cause was one aircraft (out of radio contact) had risen above the mountain range to obtain radio contact, when the other aircraft was flying over the same ridge. There were several Operational changes made after this incident, meant to prevent this from occurring again...
We trained hard at home because, usually you have a chance to learn from your mistakes. When the bullets are flying, there are no second chances. Historically more Marines die in training & in CONUS that die in combat...
Semper Fi
@Kozmonot I was stationed at Ft. Campbell when that happened and I remember it well. My (ex) husband was also in an infantry unit doing air assault exercises the day it happened and I really freaked out too. He was 187 and I believe the accident was 327, not positive though. That was tragic, 13 soldiers killed I believe.
My heart goes out to all the next of kin left behind by this tragedy. RIP.
AC Robertson, that crewchief was one of my instructors at NAS Millington, before I went off to MCAS Tustin and then to New River. We had a CH-46 collide with a cobra during Operation Purple Haze. Basically the cobra was orbiting overhead and the 46 collided with it. Lost a few friends that day.
Semper Fi and regards from an old $hitter mech and crew chief.
"Eric - Sage advice that a lot of people really need to listen to... including the media"
I have no problem with slight initial reports by the media, but there is rarely any follow up, that's the real issue. Then idiots without enough sense to notice or care about the lack of fact and or information go off on influential rants that promote some ridiculous ideology or re-inforce some culturally ingrained lie and it is not addressed...Grow up, ideologues, this is the real world, we'd prefer to deal in realities and facts.
Rest the souls of our fallen Warriors. May your families find solace and blessing as needed on their mourning path.
Semper Fi brothers and/or sisters. Thoughts and prayers to the families, such a sad thing to lose them in this way.
This is very tragic, and my heart goes out to the family and friends of these Marines. My nephew is in the Marines and out in CA right now training for deployment in April.
Very, very sad. Semper Fi, Marines.
Amen.
Because it's training for warfare, which by its very nature is inherently dangerous. You probably don't realize how many soldiers are killed or wounded in this fashion. They just don't get pretty medals for it.
Heartfelt sympathy to the families. Semper Fidelis! It doesn't matter if it is wartime or peacetime Marines can and have died in training. In 1985 a CH-53 with a platoon of marines from my battalion flew into the side of a mountain in Korea. A whole platoon of US Marines from Lima Company 3rd Bn 5th Marines plus the pilot, co-pilot and crew chief, and 4 ROK Marines died in the crash. I was in India Co 3/5 at the time and about 9 mos after we returned from deployment in Korea we had 2 Marines die in an armory explosion.
Always a tragedy to hear things like this.
Rest in Peace Marines.
God bless them and their loved ones.
Thank you soliders for your service, you have my upmost respect.
My heart goes out to their families as well.
Yes, they are devildogs, and you are an effing idiot.
BigJJstudd-
Most people do not know that there is a difference between the two branches. However soldier is a broad term for what each group does. 99Mel was just offering their condolences. Ease up.
BigJJstudd - Could you be more insensitive? This is why us Marines don't get along with a lot of you soldiers. All on the same team, so shut your mouth and show some respect.
Only reason I haven't enlisted is I have a daughter to take care of. And I want to know how he's tying political @!$%# in with this. And JJ Either give their families your condolences or get the @!$%# off.
BigJJStudd:
Both branches of the military do a lot, and as Brokinarrow said, they're all on the same team.
My nephew is in the Marines, and he's already done one tour in Afghanistan (and he did get off the boat despite your claim), and he's going back in April.
But that doesn't diminish what the Army does. A friend from high school is in the Army and she was injured in an IED explosion about a year ago.
Both branches see combat, and both branches are worthy of praise.
Try being a little more sensitive about the loss of life, instead of getting so angry about someone's use of the word "soldier."
Marines, Army, Navy, Airforce....aren't they all in the military for the same purpose...to serve and protect the United States of America?? Whether you want to call them all soliders or not...they are heros and deserve respect!
JJ what's your rank? You seem to act like the little kid who has a new toy and bragging about it so I know your not very high up.
I think it's funny that he keeps throwing around nicknames like devildogs and jarheads as if they are insults to us, when really we refer to ourselves by the same nicknames all the time and do so with pride.
JJ with your ignorance and attitude you I'm sure your fellow soliders are ashamed of you! I would not want to walk beside you in combat. js
Big J J Stud you are a simple minded idiot they are American service men or women that died in that training exercise,who cares what Branch of service there in. I served in both gulf wars and I did train and fight next to Army soldiers so dont tell me that Marines just sit on ships while the Army does all the fighting. You were probably a S-1 pog that just did paperwork you little bithc so shut your mouth and be proud of all the services. I have 3 kids in the Air Force the Army and the Marine Corps and my daughters husband is in the Navy, so open your mind block head. And yes the unit that had the accident I know them because I was a Huey Crewchief in HMLA 169 out of Camp Pendelton and Miramar Air station. Go crawl back under your rock dumbass.
BigJJ...Norman Murburg died in training (US Army). That was the result of about 30 seconds worth of research. So yes, they have died during training. And just a little reality check for you...members of all branches of the US Military have died during these wars. So get over yoruself and support those people who are working TOGETHER to defend this country.
If someone was as cold as you are they would point out that maybe if those soldiers knew what they were doing they wouldn't die in the first place.
Before anyone jumps on that, it is NOT something I believe...but an equally ignorant statement as BigJJ, in order to prove a point. I actually support and recognize EVERYONE who is defending our country.
BigJJstudd, you just got PUNKED son!
BigJJStud - you sir, are an IDIOT. Take it from a mother of a son in the Army and a son in the Marines, there most definitely is a difference. But sadly, they both bleed red and both die in war. Please don't forget, the first in are Marines. But without soldiers and Marines, we could not go into battle.
Please share with us how many times you've fought in war. But then again, please don't. Because a true soldier wouldn't BRAG about it. You probably aren't even in the United States Army. I could never imagine you having my back!
marine mike---
Thanks for your service, and I totally agree with your comment. When I was in the army I volunteered to be a paratrooper because I wanted people on either side of me who knew what they were doing when the shiit started. I served a tour in Vietnam, in northern I Corps, where the only other units around were Marines. When we called for support, we didn't much care where it came from. All the Marines I had the opportunity to work and fight with were well-trained professionals who got the job done. There was inter-service rivalry, which got louder and more aggressive the further you got from the real action. If JJ has any campaign medals, I suspect he collected them in the rear with the gear.
Semper Fidelis Devil Dogs. This blog has certainly spiraled out of control. I suppose I could cite my 1st amendment right to free speech and call names like many of you but, alas, I am an adult. My last assignment in over eight years in the Corps was with Joint Service Communications Element, Rapid Deployment Force, MacDill AFB. I worked and deployed with all branches. My two best friends at the time were Army and Air Force. We not only worked together and toward the same goal, we worked well together. In 3 1/2 years we deployed to five different countries. My hat is off to all US military troops.
bigJJ"studd"? - OK quit the trolling! First off, I get the "inter-service rivalry thing" (I've been in 2 branches of the service, and the other branches are also represented in my family), but give it a rest, already! What was your MOS, and what unit were you attached to anyway? It seems you haven't read much news recently, because the Marines are still over in the Middle East taking casualties like everyone else (My son's unit recently had to deal with attack boats over there). And I've known plenty of Army guys that died in training accidents, and Navy guys that died during peacetime ops (as well as wartime ops) - so lighten up! The thing about the "inter-service rivalry" is that you need to remember and appreciate that when the bullets start flying, that the other branches are there to back you up, because you can't do it alone (no matter how much bravado you show).
BIGJJ are you angry with the GRUNTS because of the platoon of scum that GANG RAPED that 14 year old GIRL in Hadetha IN FRONT of her family and then shot her, her brothers and sisters, and her parents and grandparents between the eyes, and then hacked the RAPED girl's body into pieces and tried to burn it, and then LIED and said the CIVILIANS were ARMED, and NONE of the scum went to prison? Or are you angry with the MURDERING GRUNT COWARDS who had an illegal Mexican GRUNT in their group killed by an IED and then went on a MURDERING TIRADE in retaliation headed by a COWARDLY MURDERING GRUNT by the name of Frank Worteritz who ordered EVERY unarmed civilian (27 in total) around the explosion area be MURDERED, and he and the rest of the MURDERING SCUM got off with NOTHING! Is THAT WHY you don't think the GRUNTS are as AMAZING as they feel about themselves hmmmmm??
I'm going to go out on a limb and say either "BIG JJ" has never served in the Army, or is straight out of AIT. Otherwise, he would know that Marines deploy to Iraq and Afghanistan. I like any other soldier tease other branches of service, but I have tremendous respect for them. I was attached to the 15th MEU during OIF I for a little while, they do things differently, but they do them right.
BIGJJSTUDD ... I remember that name from somewhere. Oh, that's right, I bought some GI Joes from you on Ebay for my 5 year old cousin. Everything you learned about war you learned from 4 inch plastic figurines. (I'm sure those aren't the only useless 4 inch things you have) . 7 Marines just died. Show some respect. They do more in one day than you'll do in your entire life. You know nothing about war, obviously (I did two tours to Iraq and not once have I ever stepped foot on a ship). You want to know something else - I lost 2 great friends thanks to soldiers. In Fallujah, 3rd Battalion 5th Marines had to clear a whole section of the city that these "awesome soldiers" should had done properly. Where the Marine Corps spends hours and hours and tons of money on training, the Army spends tons and tons of money and time on cool little recruiting ads. Did you ever think that maybe all those "real warriors" are dying in Iraq and Afghanistan, because they don't know how to fight?!? We just lost 7 heroes ... go play with your GI Joes and come out of your moms basement when your dinner is ready. Leave this stuff for the real men.
Matt Stieber, BigJJstudd, you're each suspended for a day for violating #1 of the Code of Honor.
as a builder of these uh-1y hueys i can assure you the marines are not getting junk outdated aircraft. these aircraft are elite. my thoughts and prayers go out to these marines that put there lives in jeperdy for everyone of us everyday! God bless these families.
Chance - yeah, the problem is that no matter how well built the machines are, they are VERY complex, which raises the probability that things are going to go wrong sooner or later.
Bigjj and Asskisser, you two really should get together. You sound like twins. Perhaps you are related. You two certainly demonstrate the same level of humanity and common decency. You know, even after your disrespectful, asinine and ill informed rants I would wish you no harm and if harm did come to you, you would have my condolences.
Bigjj, I know you don't speak for most real soldiers. I also know that most real soldiers are just as disgusted as I am at your egotistical and unfeeling blabbering. By the way, I am reasonably sure that the 300 Marines killed in Afghanistan, over the last three years, really do wish they had been home training.
Asskisser, what happened; your momma didn't hold you enough when you were a baby? That you would take the actions of a couple of rogues and use them to try to paint the tens of thousands of brave and honorable Marines who have courageously served in Afghanistan and elsewhere, for the past 236 years, is repulsive. You know, as I think about it, I feel very sorry for you. It must be horrible to have all that anger and the best you can do is type your fanatical ramblings onto the computer in your mother's basement.
Bigjj and Asskisser, you two really should get together. You sound like twins. Perhaps you are related. You two certainly demonstrate the same level of humanity and common decency. You know, even after your disrespectful, asinine and ill informed rants I would wish you no harm and if harm did come to you, you would have my condolences.
Bigjj, I know you don't speak for most real soldiers. I also know that most real soldiers are just as disgusted as I am at your egotistical and unfeeling blabbering. By the way, I am reasonably sure that the 300 Marines killed in Afghanistan, over the last three years, really do wish they had been home training.
Asskisser, what happened; your momma didn't hold you enough when you were a baby? That you would take the actions of a couple of rogues and use them to try to paint the tens of thousands of brave and honorable Marines who have courageously served in Afghanistan and elsewhere, for the past 236 years, is repulsive. You know, as I think about it, I feel very sorry for you. It must be horrible to have all that anger and the best you can do is type your fanatical ramblings onto the computer in your mother's basement.
denver bill 2 - Was at Cua Viet for TET-68, were you at DMZ at that time? Thank You for your Service and Welcome Home. Please read www.riflewarrior.com/vietnam.html. Peace.
Rest in Peace
Prayers to their families and friends. American Heroes lost.
Semper Fi Marines.
"Sir, 7 more reporting. They've served their time in Hell!!!"
Outstanding comment & avatar Dbachrach!!
Very Good comment - "When I Die and get to Heaven, to St. Peter I will tell, One More Marine reporting Sir, I've served my time in HELL", Author unknown. WW II quote.
How tragic.
Godspeed, Marines! Thoughts and prayers for all those left behind by these seven.
I hate reading about this...very sad. God Bless them and their families.
Semper Fi
Very sad. My thoughts and prayers are with their families and comrades.
Hats off and salute to you Marines. Thank you for your service and may you rest in peace. Best wishes to their loved ones. Hopefully it can be determined what went wrong and avoided in the future, though sometimes accidents do happen and this can be the outcome. Again Thank you Marines (and all our servicemen and women) for all that you do.
It is time
Marines do more by 9 a.m. than most people do all day.....R.I.P.
I'd like to see you try to make it through the first month of Marines Corps bootcamp there big J.
At least the marine's aren't dying from rabies after being neglected by their superiors. But as you said, "real men in uniform die in COMBAT". I am assuming you have called up his parents or posted somewhere regarding how that SOLDIER was not a real man.
Easy there comrades...BigJJ, you're a moron. All who serve or have served are selfless heroes in my mind. As soldiers, we all serve and sacrifice for our homeland. I served in VN and have the utmost respect for all of our soldiers. Whichever branch they serve in, the mission is the same, the blood that flows is always red. May their families find some sliver of peace in their dedicated service.
hate to say this but just hope they were not goofing off or showing off like that stunt with dipping a helo in the water that was not meant to be dipped in water.
but other then that god bless them and there family's my prayers go out to them.
Tragic loss. Semper FI.
If it was easy, everyone would do it.
Indeed, a sad commentary on life today. I'm sure all our sympathies go out to the families of these fine young marines. Regardless of where or why, they died for THEIR COUNTRY, and ours.
This a sad tragedy, RIP brothers. Semper FI
What a drag. My heart is out for the loss. And I salute you all. My flag is flying at half mast this day in Las Cruces, NM.