The six marines killed when their UH-1 helicopter crashed in the mountains of Nepal have been identified and recovered, according to a May 17 Pentagon release. They are: Capt. Dustin Lukasiewicz, a UH-1Y pilot assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469 at Camp Pendleton, Calif.; Capt. Christopher L. Norgren, a UH-1Y pilot assigned to HMLA-469; Sgt. Ward Johnson, a UH-1Y helicopter crew chief with HMLA-469; Sgt. Eric Seaman, a crew chief with HMLA-469; Cpl. Sara Medina, a combat photographer with Marine Corps Installations Pacific, Okinawa, Japan; and Lance Cpl. Jacob Hug, a combat videographer also with Marine Corps Installations Pacific. Two Nepalese soldiers also were killed in the crash, states the release. “This tragedy is a reminder of the vital but dangerous role that American service members play in delivering humanitarian assistance and disaster relief,” said Defense Secretary Ash Carter in a May 15 statement. “Our mission continues in Nepal, and we remain dedicated to answering the call when disaster strikes, both in the Asia-Pacific and around the world.”
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
