Update: Loss of Coast Guard 1705 and Marine Corps Helicopter
I sent the following e-mail update to all Coast Guard personnel:
To the Men and Women of the United States Coast Guard:
We are still in the midst of a massive search effort to locate the seven missing Guardians from CG-1705 and the two Marines from the AH-1 Cobra helicopter. Coast Guard and Navy assets, along with a Customs and Border Protection helicopter, are searching a 644 nautical mile area and have recovered debris from both aircraft but we have not located any survivors at this time. I remain hopeful and we will continue to search until all of our options are exhausted.
After completing the next of kin notifications and consulting closely with our Marine Corps and Navy partners, we are releasing the names of the AIRSTA Sacramento based crew of the CG-1705:
Lieutenant Commander Che J. Barnes; age 35
Lieutenant Adam W. Bryant; age 28
Chief Petty Officer John F. Seidman; age 43
Petty Officer Second Class Carl P. Grigonis; age 35
Petty Officer Second Class Monica L. Beacham; age 29
Petty Officer Second Class Jason S. Moletzsky; age 26
Petty Officer Third Class Danny R. Kreder II; age 22.
The names of the missing Marines are Major Samuel Leigh, age 35, and First Lieutenant Thomas Claiborne, age 26.
I am extremely proud of all the people involved in the search efforts - their dedication to finding their fellow shipmates is inspiring. We will continue to support AIRSTA Sacramento, the families of the missing crewmembers, and all the participating units with everything they need to continue the search.
This event, like the CG-6505 helicopter accident last year, highlights the risks we accept every day to ensure the Nation's safety and security. As Guardians, we acknowledge the risk but that doesn?t ease the emotional burden we feel after a tragedy. I know many people have been working extremely hard over the last several days so please watch each other's back.
I will provide further updates as they become available. Keep these missing Guardians and Marines, along with their families, in your thoughts during this difficult time.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento has released photos and background information on the missing C-130 airplane crew that is the subject of a joint agency search operation off the coast of San Clemente Island, Calif.
The search for the missing crew has saturated an area totaling more than 644 square-miles and has included surface and air assets from the Coast Guard, Navy, Marine Corps and Customs and Border Protection.
The missing crew members from the C-130 are:
Lt. Cmdr. Che J. Barnes, age 35, Capay, Calif., Aircraft Commander.
Job Description: Flight Safety Officer, C-130 Aircraft Commander, and Operations Duty Officer (ODO)
Age: 35
Hometown: Capay, Calif.
Gender: Male
Relationship: Single
Awards/Accolades include: 2009 CDR Elmer F. Stone Awardee, Coast Guard (CG) Commendation Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, three CG Achievement Medals, six Meritorious Unit Commendations, CG Meritorious Team Commendation, two Commandant’s Letter of Commendations, CG E Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, two CG Special Operations Ribbons, CG Presidential Unit Citation, Dept. of Transportation (DOT) 9-11 Ribbon.
Lt. Adam W. Bryant, age 28, Crewe, Va., Co-Pilot.
Job Description: C-130 Pilot, Public Affairs Officer and ODO
Age: 28
Hometown: Crewe, Va.
Gender: Male
Relationship: Single
Awards/Accolades include: Armed Forces Service Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, CG Presidential Unit Citation, Commandant’s Letter of Commendation, CG E Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, CG Special Operations Service Ribbon, CG Presidential Unit Citation, DOT 9-11 Ribbon.
Chief Petty Officer John F. Seidman, age 43, Stockton, Calif., Flight Engineer.
Job Description: Aviation Maintenance Technician, Shop Chief of Engine/Prop Shop, Qualified C-130 Flight Engineer, and ODO
Age: 43
Hometown: Stockton, Calif.
Gender: Male
Relationship: Married, no children
Awards/Accolades include: CG Commendation Medal, Global War On Terror Service Medal, Achievement Medal, six CG Unit Commendations, four CG Meritorious Unit Commendations, Bicentennial Unit Commendation, CG Rifle Marksman Ribbon, two CG Meritorious Team Commendations, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, five CG Special Operations Service Ribbons, CG Presidential Unit Citation, Commandant’s Letter of Commendation, two National Defense Service Medals, Humanitarian Service Medal, CG Special Operations Service Ribbon, CG Presidential Unit Citation, DOT 9-11 Ribbon, seven Good Conduct Medals, and a DOT Outstanding Unit Award.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Carl P. Grigonis, age 35, Mayfield Heights, Ohio, Navigator.
Job Description: Aviation Electronics Technician, Qualified C-130 Flight Navigator
Age: 35
Hometown: Mayfield Heights, Ohio
Gender: Male
Relationship: Married, with children
Awards/Accolades include: Global War On Terror Service Medal, Achievement Medal, two CG Unit Commendations, two CG Meritorious Unit Commendations, CG Pistol Marksman Ribbon, CG Meritorious Team Commendations, Commandant’s Letter of Commendation, National Defense Service Medals, CG Special Operations Service Ribbon, CG Presidential Unit Citation, DOT 9-11 Ribbon, three Good Conduct Medals.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Monica L. Beacham, age 29, Decaturville, Tenn., Radio Operator.
Job Description: Aviation Electronics Technician, Qualified C-130 Radioman, Navigator Trainee
Age: 29
Hometown: Decaturville, Tenn.
Gender: Female
Relationship: Married, with children
Awards/Accolades include: Global War Terror Service Medal, two CG Unit Commendations, two CG Meritorious Unit Commendations, two CG Meritorious Team Commendations, National Defense Service Medal, two Humanitarian Service Medals, CG Presidential Unit Citation, two CG Good Conduct Medals, and DOT 9-11 Ribbon.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason S. Moletzsky, age 26, Norristown, Pa., Air Crew.
Job Description: Aviation Maintenance Technician, Basic C-130 Air Crew.
Age: 26
Hometown: Norristown, Pa.
Gender: Male
Relationship: Single
Awards/Accolades include: Global War on Terror Service Medal, CG Achievement Medal, CG Meritorious Unit Commendation, CG Rifle Marksman Ribbon, CG Pistol Marksman Ribbon, CG Meritorious Team Commendation, two Commandant’s Letter of Commendations, National Defense Service Medal, two CG Special Operations Service Ribbons, CG Presidential Unit Citation, two CG Good Conduct Medals.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Danny R. Kreder II, age 22, Elm Mott, Texas, Drop Master.
Job Description: Aviation Maintenance Technician, Dropmaster, Sensor System Operator
Age: 22
Hometown: Elm Mott, Texas
Gender: Male
Relationship: Married, no children
Awards/Accolades include: Cutterman Insignia, CG Unit Commendation Award, Commandant’s Letter of Commendation, CG Presidential Unit Citation, CG Sea Service Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal.
All are stationed at Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento, Calif., where their aircraft was based.
The search for the crew, as well as the two U.S. Marine Corps aircrew, has been ongoing since shortly after the suspected mid-air collision between the Coast Guard C-130 airplane and the Marine Corps AH-W1 helicopter.
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