The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Huntingdon Valley Marine killed in helicopter crash
LOS ANGELES » Four Marines killed when their helicopter crashed on a training mission in the Southern California desert were identified Thursday as men in their 20s and 30s from the South and Midwest, including one who served in Iraq and another who recently became a father.
Miramar air station in San Diego said those killed included 28-year-old Capt. Samuel Schultz of Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, and 27-year-old 1st Lt. Samuel Phillips of Pinehurst, North Carolina.
Both were pilots, with Schultz joining the Marines in 2012 and Phillips in 2013.
Also killed was 33-yearold Gunnery Sgt. Richard Holley of Dayton, Ohio. The helicopter crew chief was the longest-serving Marine among those killed, joining in 2003, and had been deployed to Iraq twice, the air base said.
The youngest Marine killed was 24-year-old Lance Cpl. Taylor Conrad of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, another helicopter crew chief who became a father in October and was remembered by friends and family as just as caring as he was tough.
The Marines were with the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing’s 465th squadron out of Miramar air station. They were practicing desert landings when their CH-53E Super Stallion crashed Tuesday in a remote area just outside El Centro, near the U.S.-Mexico border.
Col. Craig Leflore, commanding officer of Marine Aircraft Group 16, said in a statement that “the hardest part of being a Marine is the tragic loss of life of a fellow brother-in-arms.”
“These ‘Warhorse’ Marines brought joy and laughter to so many around them,” he said. “They each served honorably, wore the uniform proudly and were a perfect example of what makes our Marine Corps great — its people. They will forever be in our hearts and minds.”
Tributes to the Marines were pouring in on social media, including from the mayor of Conrad’s hometown of Baton Rouge and his high school football team.
“He was the gold standard,” said Cpl. Brock Portier, a good friend and fellow Marine based in Camp Pendleton.
“He pushed everybody and he cared about everybody,” he said. “I wouldn’t be the Marine I am now if it wasn’t for him.”
Pam Scoggin, Conrad’s great-aunt, said the young man had been going to school at Louisiana State University when he decided to join the Marines.
“He thought they were the toughest of all the military and that’s what he wanted to be,” the 68-yearold said from her home in Texas City, Texas. “He loved serving his country. He just thrived on being a Marine.”