Abington HS Grad, Marine Killed In Crash, Was 'American Hero'

HUNTINGDON VALLEY, PA — Services have been set for U.S. Marine Capt. Sam Schultz, the Huntingdon Valley native killed in a helicopter crash during a training exercise earlier this month.

Schultz, 28, a graduate of Abington Senior High School, was one of four Marines killed April 3 when their chopper went down in the desert near Ocotillo, California, about a two hours' drive east of San Diego.

Visitation will begin on Sunday, April 15 at 10 a.m. at the Joseph Levine and Sons Memorial Chapel, located on 4737 Street Road in Trevose, his obituary states. A service will commence at 11 a.m., and internment will take place at Shalom Memorial Park.

The three other victims were identified as First Lt. Samuel D. Phillips, 27, of Pinehurst, North Carolina; Gunnery Sgt. Richard Holley, 33, of Dayton, Ohio; and Lance Cpl. Taylor J. Conrad, 24, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. All four Marines were from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, based out of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego.

"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.

A scholarship fundraiser has been launched in Schultz's name. Capt. P.J. Burns, a friend of Schultz, hopes the fund will honor the legacy of "work ethic and selflessness" which he left behind. It will be awarded to a senior in the Penn State Naval ROTC program, like Sam.

"All those who knew this great American hero are left wondering what we can do to somehow honor him, console his family or, maybe selfishly, ease some of our own pain," Burns wrote in a GoFundMe campaign. "It is critically important to honor our fallen in a tangible way that makes people remember them, even if that only means just a few moments every year."

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In just three days, more than $23,000 has been raised for the scholarship, with donations coming in from 234 contributors. To donate to the GoFundMe campaign and learn more, see here.

Schultz joined the Marines in 2012. He is survived by his parents, Julie and Mitchell Schultz, brother Eric Schultz, grandparents of Phyllis and Arnold Rosoff and the late Dr. Ruth and Albert Schultz, as well as his girlfriend, Shea Livingston.

Those wishing to watch the funeral services online may do so via Levine Funeral Home's webcam on Sunday.

Image via Marine Corps