Search for Marines ends

After nearly a week spent searching the stormtossed waters off the coast of Oahu, the U.S. Marine Corps officially declared that 12 Marines based in Hawaii were lost when two military transport helicopters crashed.

Among the Marines officially declared deceased Wednesday were two Houston-area residents: Maj. Shawn M. Campbell and Cpl. Matthew R. Drown.

Campbell, 41, was a CH-53E Super Stallion pilot while Drown, 23, was a crew chief on one of the helicopters, U.S. Marine Corps officials said.

Campbell was from College Station, while Drown was from Spring. Both were assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463, part of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing based at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

The status of Campbell and Drown was changed to “deceased” after five full days of searching. Marine Corps officials confirmed that human remains were recovered in the search but did not elaborate.

An investigation will be led by an officer, not from unit’s chain-of-command, ranked lieutenant colonel or higher and is a graduate of the Naval Safety Center’s Aviation Safety Course. The remainder of the investigation team will include helicopter maintenance experts and a flight surgeon, officials said.

Campbell was a graduate

of Klein High School and Texas A&M. He joined the Marine Corps in September 1999 and saw action in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Drown joined the Marine Corps in March 2011. His decorations include the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

A memorial service is scheduled for Friday at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe Bay.