Identities of Marines and Sailor Lost in Devastating Mississippi Plane Crash Revealed

Identities of Marines and Sailor Lost in Devastating Mississippi Plane Crash Revealed
Members of the U.S. Marines stand at attention at an event in North Carolina. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images)
Colin Fredericson
7/14/2017
Updated:
7/14/2017

The identities of 16 servicemen killed in the crash of a KC-130 Hercules refueling jet were revealed. Fifteen marines and one sailor were aboard when the jet crashed into a field in Mississippi.

Nine of the Marines were based in Orange County, New York, and the remaining six Marines and one Navy sailor were based in North Carolina.

The Marines delayed the release of the names after the crash happened on July 10 in order to notify the affected families and give them time to grieve.

The plane originated from Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York. The crew on board was from Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, along with Marines from the Newburgh base. They were headed to Naval Air Field in El Centro, California. The purpose of the mission, known as Yanky 72, was simply to transport them and equipment to the California air field. They would then journey to the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Arizona, via ground transport.

At 4 p.m. air traffic control lost radar contact and the plane went down. No statement on the full cause of the crash is yet available. Previously it was reported that the FBI was involved in the investigation.

Cpl. Daniel L. Baldassare of VMGR-452 in Orange County, New York. (Photo via U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve)
Cpl. Daniel L. Baldassare of VMGR-452 in Orange County, New York. (Photo via U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve)

 

Staff Sgt. Joshua M. Snowden of VMGR-452 in Orange County, New York. (Photo via U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve)
Staff Sgt. Joshua M. Snowden of VMGR-452 in Orange County, New York. (Photo via U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve)

 

Sgt. Dietrich A. Schmieman of 2D Raider Battalion in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. (Photo via U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve)
Sgt. Dietrich A. Schmieman of 2D Raider Battalion in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. (Photo via U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve)

 

Cpl. Collin J. Schaaff of VMGR-452 in Orange County, New York. (Photo via U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve)
Cpl. Collin J. Schaaff of VMGR-452 in Orange County, New York. (Photo via U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve)

 

Sgt. Joseph J. Murray of 2D Raider Battalion in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. (Photo via U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve)
Sgt. Joseph J. Murray of 2D Raider Battalion in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. (Photo via U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve)

 

HM2 Ryan Lohrey of 2D Raider Battalion in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. (Photo via U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve)
HM2 Ryan Lohrey of 2D Raider Battalion in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. (Photo via U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve)

 

Sgt. Owen J. Lennon of VMGR-452 in Orange County, New York. (Photo via U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve)
Sgt. Owen J. Lennon of VMGR-452 in Orange County, New York. (Photo via U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve)

 

Sgt. Talon R. Leach of 2D Raider Battalion in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. (Photo via U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve)
Sgt. Talon R. Leach of 2D Raider Battalion in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. (Photo via U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve)

 

Staff Sgt. William J. Kundrat of 2D Raider Battalion in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. (Photo via U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve)
Staff Sgt. William J. Kundrat of 2D Raider Battalion in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. (Photo via U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve)

 

Sgt. Julian M. Kevianne of VMGR-452 in Orange County, New York. (Photo via U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve)
Sgt. Julian M. Kevianne of VMGR-452 in Orange County, New York. (Photo via U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve)

 

Gunnery Sgt. Brendan C. Johnson of VMGR-452 in Orange County, New York. (Photo via U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve)
Gunnery Sgt. Brendan C. Johnson of VMGR-452 in Orange County, New York. (Photo via U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve)

 

Sgt. Chad E. Jenson of 2D Raider Battalion in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. (Photo via U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve)
Sgt. Chad E. Jenson of 2D Raider Battalion in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. (Photo via U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve)

 

Gunnery Sgt. Mark A. Hopkins of VMGR-452 in Orange County, New York. (Photo via U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve)
Gunnery Sgt. Mark A. Hopkins of VMGR-452 in Orange County, New York. (Photo via U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve)

 

Maj. Caine M. Goyette of VMGR-452 in Orange County, New York. (Photo via U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve)
Maj. Caine M. Goyette of VMGR-452 in Orange County, New York. (Photo via U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve)

 

Capt. Sean E. Elliott of VMGR-452 in Orange County, New York. (Photo via U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve)
Capt. Sean E. Elliott of VMGR-452 in Orange County, New York. (Photo via U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve)

 

Staff Sgt. Robert H. Cox of 2D Raider Battalion in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. (Photo via U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve)
Staff Sgt. Robert H. Cox of 2D Raider Battalion in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. (Photo via U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve)
Colin is a New York-based reporter. He covers Entertainment, U.S., and international news. Besides writing for online news outlets he has worked in online marketing and advertising, done voiceover work, and has a background in sound engineering and filmmaking. His foreign language skills include Spanish and Chinese.
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