Memorial set for 12 Marines aboard helicopters that crashed

They were officially classified as deceased on Wednesday after the U.S. Coast Guard, military, police and others ended their search. Military members and families gathered for the memorial service at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe after the status of the dozen missing Marines changed to deceased following five days of searching. Servicemen placed flight vests, rifles, flight helmets, combat boots and leis on 12 individual crosses.

Brian “Kenny” Kennedy was a CH-46 pilot by training who had won over fellow CH-53E crew members at Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, despite the intense rivalry between the two aircraft platforms.

Orlando was one of 12 Marines who were in two helicopters that crashed off Hawaii are considered dead.

The two aircraft, each of them transporting 6 military men, had been part of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, an aviation unit pertaining to the Marine Corps Air Station from Kaneohe Bay, in Honolulu County, Hawaii.

The Coast Guard called off the search for the missing Marines on Tuesday after five days of search and rescue efforts across some 40,000 square nautical miles of ocean, along with shorelines.

Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller issued a statement on Friday saying that the service’s priority is to help the members of Helicopter Squadron 463 and the rest of Marine Aircraft Group 24.

The president says their willingness to complete risky training missions will not be forgotten and their spirit of service was reflected in the around-the-clock search.

The victims ranged in age from 21 to 41, the statement said.

– Capt. Steven R. Torbert, 29, Florence, Alabama.

– Sgt. Adam C. Schoeller, 25, Gardners, Pennsylvania.

Sgt. Dillon “D-Dog” Semolina was a determined Marine who spent a deployment to Australia sneaking out of the barracks at night to meet a girl he would later marry.

Sgt. Jeffrey Sempler enjoyed teaching and wanted to be an English teacher after the Marine Corps.

Sgt. William J. Turner served as a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter crew chief at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

– Cpl. Christopher J. Orlando, 23, Hingham, Massachusetts.

– Cpl. Thomas J. Jardas, 22, Fort Myers, Florida.

– Lance Cpl. Ty L. Hart, 21, Aumsville, Oregon.

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