Marine from Suburban Chicago Among Those Killed in Nepal Crash

A U.S. Marine combat photographer from Illinois was among six Marines killed in a helicopter crash in Nepal while on a humanitarian mission. Cpl. Sara A. Medina, 23, a photographer with Marine Corps installations Pacific, Okinawa, Japan, was a native of Aurora, IL.

Medina graduated from West Aurora High School in 2010.

Her family told NBC Chicago that Medina was engaged to be married in August and the mission to Nepal was expected to be her final assignment. She was born in Durango, Mexico, but moved to Aurora as a child. She will be buried in Mexico.

The UH-1Y Huey helicopter went down in the mountains of Nepal May 12. The wreckage was found on Saturday. The military has not yet determined what caused the crash.

On Sunday, the Department of Defense recovered their remains and released the identities of those who lost their lives, including:

• Capt. Dustin R. Lukasiewicz, a UH-1Y pilot with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Camp Pendleton, California, and a native of Nebraska;
• Capt. Christopher L. Norgren, a UH-1Y pilot with HMLA-469, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Camp Pendleton, California, and a native of Kansas;
• Sgt. Ward M. Johnson, IV, a UH-1Y helicopter crew chief with HMLA-469, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Camp Pendleton, California, and a native of Florida;
• Sgt. Eric M. Seaman, a UH-1Y helicopter crew chief with HMLA-469, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Camp Pendleton, California, and a native of California;
• Lance Cpl. Jacob A. Hug, a combat videographer with Marine Corps installations Pacific, Okinawa, Japan, and a native of Arizona.

Two Nepalese soldiers aboard the aircraft also were killed.

Joint Task Force 505 arrived in Nepal April 29 to conduct humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations. The UH-1Y Huey was on a disaster-relief mission called “Operation Sahayogi Haat” when it was reported missing Tuesday morning, approximately nine hours after Nepal was struck by a magnitude-7.3 aftershock to the magnitude-7.8 temblor of April 25. The initial earthquake killed more than 8,200 people while the big aftershock claimed another 117 lives.

The helicopter and squadron were diverted from a joint task force exercise in the Philippines to assist with search and rescue.

“They were determined to go forward with their duties, eager to contribute to our mission and to alleviate suffering and to come to the rescue of those in need,” said Marine Lt. Gen. John Wissler, commanding general of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force, Joint Task Force 505 and Marine Forces Japan

“They were courageous. They were selfless individuals dedicated to the international humanitarian aid mission here in Nepal. We are deeply saddened by the discovery of this wreckage.”

Gov. Bruce Rauner also issued a statement Sunday in honor of Medina.

“Cpl. Sara Medina made the ultimate sacrifice while assisting the people of Nepal during their time of crisis, and her death is a loss for the State of Illinois and the nation,” Rauner said in a statement. “Cpl. Medina’s courage and dedication to serving and protecting others makes her a role model for all of us. She will never be forgotten.”

photo via imgur