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 last remaining T-1 Jayhawk at JBSA-Randolph, Texas, took its final flight to the "Boneyard" at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., on July 15. The 99th Flying Training Squadron will train pilots using T-6 and simulator until it gets T-7 Red Hawk in fiscal 2026.