CHARICOT, Nepal - Six U.S. Marines died when a UH-1Y Huey helicopter, with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469, crashed eight miles north of Charikot, Nepal, the afternoon of May 12.



Dead are:



Capt. Dustin R. Lukasiewicz, 29, Harlan, Nebraska.



Capt. Christopher L. Norgren, 31, Sedgwick, Kansas.



Sgt. Ward M. Johnson, IV, 29, Seminole, Florida.



Sgt. Eric M. Seaman, 30, Riverside, California.



Cpl. Sara A. Medina, 23, Kane, Illinois.



Lance Cpl. Jacob A. Hug, 22, Maricopa, Arizona.



Our thoughts and prayers are with the Marines and their families as we all mourn this tragic loss of life.



Media seeking additional information should contact the Joint Task Force 505 Public Affairs Office, via email: jtf505_main_pao@usmc.mil or by phone: (315) 643-0518 or (315) 622-7052.



(Biographies)



Captain Dustin R. Lukasiewicz served as a UH-1Y pilot with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Camp Pendleton, California.



Captain Lukasiewicz, 29, from Harlan, Nebraska, was commissioned March 28, 2008. His deployments include 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Sahayogi Haat.



Captain Lukasiewicz’s decorations include Air Medal with Strike/Flight Numeral 5, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with bronze star in lieu of second award, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal and a NATO Medal.



Captain Christopher L. Norgren served as a UH-1Y pilot with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Camp Pendleton, California.



Captain Norgren, 31, from Sedgwick, Kansas, was commissioned August 8, 2009. His deployments include Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Sahayogi Haat.



Captain Norgren’s decorations include Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with bronze star in lieu of second award, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with bronze star in lieu of second award, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, Certificate of Commendation and a NATO Medal.



Sergeant Ward M. Johnson, IV, served as a UH-1Y helicopter crew chief with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Camp Pendleton, California.



Sergeant Johnson, 29, from Seminole, Florida, enlisted March 23, 2009. His deployments include 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Sahayogi Haat.



Sergeant Johnson’s decorations include Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Air Medal with Strike/Flight Numeral 5, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with two bronze start in lieu of third award, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Certificate of Commendation, NATO Medal and a Meritorious Mast.



Sergeant Eric Seaman, served as a UH-1Y helicopter crew chief with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Camp Pendleton, California.



Sergeant Seaman, 30, from Riverside, California, enlisted March 3, 2009. His deployments include 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Sahayogi Haat.



Sergeant Seaman’s decorations include Air Medal with Strike/Flight Numeral 5, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal with bronze star in lieu of second award, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with bronze star in lieu of second award, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, NATO Medal and a Meritorious Mast.



Corporal Sara Medina served as a combat photographer with Marine Corps Installations Pacific, Okinawa, Japan.



Corporal Medina, 23, from Kane, Illinois, enlisted November 29, 2010. She deployed in support of Operation Sahayogi Haat.



Corporal Medina’s decorations include Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal and a Sea Service Deployment ribbon.



Lance Corporal Jacob Hug, served as a combat videographer with Marine Corps Installations Pacific, Okinawa, Japan.



Lance Corporal Hug, 22, from Maricopa, Arizona, enlisted September 4, 2012. He deployed in support of Operation Sahayogi Haat.



Lance Corporal Hug’s decorations include National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and a Sea Service Deployment ribbon.

NEWS INFO Date Taken: 05.17.2015 Date Posted: 05.17.2015 08:12 Story ID: 163575 Location: OKINAWA, JP Web Views: 5,978 Downloads: 0 Podcast Hits: 0 PUBLIC DOMAIN This work, Update: Joint Task Force 505 identifies six Marines in helicopter accident, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.