Dayton Marine Killed In Helicopter Crash

DAYTON, OH —Richard Holley, a Marine from Dayton, was one of four Marines killed during a helicopter crash during a training mission in California. The crash happened in Imperial County at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.

"The loss of our Marines weighs heavy on our hearts," Maj. Gen. Mark Wise, commanding general of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, said in a statement. "Our priority is to provide support for our families and HMH-465 during this critical time."

The other Marines killed in the crash were Capt. Samuel A. Schultz, 28, of Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania; First Lt. Samuel D. Phillips, 27, of Pinehurst, North Carolina; and Lance Cpl. Taylor J. Conrad, 24, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Marines were aboard a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter when it crashed around 2:35 p.m. Tuesday near El Centro, according to Marine Corps officials.

Holley, 33, joined the Marines in 2003. He was a helicopter crew chief who had been previously stationed at Marine Corps Base Quantico and MCAS Miramar. He deployed to Iraq twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, to Japan as part of the Unit Deployment Program, and with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. He was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Air Medal-Strike/Flight, and the Navy and Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal.

"The hardest part of being a Marine is the tragic loss of life of a fellow brother-in-arms," said Col. Craig Leflore, commanding officer of the Marine Aircraft Group 16.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

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