2 Washington Marines Died In Mississippi Airplane Crash

Images: Cpl. Collin Schaaff (in dress uniform); Sgt. Dietrich Schmieman

SEATTLE, WA - Two of the 16 U.S. Marines who died in a plane crash in Mississippi on Monday were from Washington state, the Marine Corps said Friday. The Marines were identified as Marine Cpl. Collin Schaaff, 22, of Tacoma, and Marine Sgt. Dietrich Schmieman, 26, of Richland.

The KC-130 Schmieman and Schaaff were aboard crashed into a field in rural Leflore County. The Marines on board were with the Marine Forces Reserve VMGR-452 and the Special Operations Command Second Raider Battalion. They were flying from North Carolina to a Navy air field in El Centro, Calif.

According to the Marines, Schaaff is a graduate of Tacoma's Franklin Pierce High School, and joined the Marines in 2013. Schmieman joined the Marines at age 19 after growing up in Richland.

Here's more on their service records from the U.S. Marines.

Full name: Collin J. Schaaff
Pay entry base date: Aug. 26, 2013
Rank and date of rank: Corporal/Dec. 1, 2015
Home of record: Pierce, Washington
Present Duty Station: VMGR 452, MAG 49, 4th MAW
Military Occupational Specialty: 6531, Aircraft Ordnance Technician
Deployment dates and locations: None
Current duty status (SMCR, Active duty, etc): Active Duty
Awards and decorations with (# of each award): Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Letter of Appreciation (2); Certificate of Commendation (Individual Award)

Full name: Dietrich A. Schmieman
Pay entry base date: Sept. 20, 2010
Rank and date of rank: Sergeant/Jan. 1, 2014
Home of record: Benton, Washington
Present Duty Station: 2nd Raider Battalion, Special Operations Command
Military Occupational Specialty: 0372, Critical Skills Operator
Deployment dates and locations: Operation Enduring Freedom, September 2010 to March 2011; Operation Enduring Freedom, January 2012 to July 2012
Current duty status (SMCR, Active duty, etc): Active Duty
Awards and decorations with (# of each award): Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2); Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (2); Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (3); Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation; Certificate of Appreciation; Letter of Appreciation (3)

The other Marines killed in the crash were:

• Maj. Caine Michael Goyette
• Capt. Sean E. Elliott
• Gunnery Sgt. Mark. A. Hopkins
• Gunnery Sgt. Brendan C. Johnson
• Staff Sgt. Robert H. Cox
• Staff Sgt. William Kundrat
• Sgt. Chad Jenson
• Sgt. Julian M. Kevianne
• Sgt. Talon Leach
• Sgt. Owen Lennon
• HM2 Ryan Lohrey
• Sgt. Joseph Murray
• Sgt. Joshua M. Snowden
• Cpl. Daniel Baldassare

Images via U.S. Marine Corps