A Marine killed when a Camp Pendleton-based tilt-rotor aircraft made a hard landing at a training base in Hawaii was publicly identified Tuesday as a 24-year-old man from Spokane, Washington.
Lance Cpl. Joshua E. Barron was fatally injured when the MV-22 Osprey assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, based at Camp Pendleton, crashed during a routine training mission at Marine Corps Training Area- Bellows, according to a statement from the 15th MEU. The hard landing also left 21 other Marines injured.
"Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and the families of all the Marines involved in Sunday's crash," 15th MEU Commanding Officer Col. Vance Cryer said. "If there is anything positive to relay in this situation, it is ... the heroic, selfless actions of the Marines aboard the aircraft along with the quick life-saving actions of the civilian and military first responders."
Barron, a tiltrotor crew chief with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161, was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar before he deployed with the 15th MEU, which departed San Diego on May 10 for a seven-month deployment.
Cryer said that despite the loss of a "fine young man," the Marines of the 15th MEU would continue their training.
"We appreciate the thoughts, prayers and support we have received as we continue to care for the injured and mourn our fallen Marine," he said.
An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash in the training area in Waimanalo on the island of Oahu has been launched by the I Marine Expeditionary Force.
According to a statement on the 15th MEU's Facebook page, the families of each Marine seriously injured in the crash have been notified. Those who sustained less severe injuries were assessed, treated and released back to their commands.
