Evening Memorial Service Held for the 19 Fallen Marines (25th Anniversary)

Honoring the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division 19 Marines killed on April 8, 2000 at the Memorial Service April 5, 2025 at the Marana Regional Airport Nighthawk-72 Memorial Park.

 

The MV-22 Osprey Tilt rotor aircraft was conducting a training mission in support of Operational Evaluation (OPEVAL) when it went down at the Marana Regional Airport in Marana, Arizona on April 8, 2000. During the mission, the crew and Marines conducted Non-combatant Evacuation Operations (NEO) exercises as part of the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course, with Marines embarking and disembarking the aircraft. The mission was conducted at night utilizing night vision goggles and forward looking infrared radar to enhance night operational capability. This mishap aircraft was part of the Multiservice Operational Test Team, based at Patuxent River, Maryland, but was temporarily attached to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron-1 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona.

 

The 19 Marines Lost were as follows:

 

3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division

Sgt. Jose Alvarez, 28

Pfc. Gabriel C. Clevenger, 21

Pfc. Alfred Corona, 23

Lance Cpl. Jason T. Duke, 28

Lance Cpl. Jesus Gonzalez Sanchez, 27

Lance Cpl. Seth G. Jones, 18

2nd Lt. Clayton J. Kennedy, 24

Lance Cpl. Jorge A. Morin, 21

Cpl. Adam C. Neely, 22

Pfc. Kenneth O. Paddio, 23

Pfc. George P. Santos, 24

Lance Cpl. Keoki P. Santos, 24

Cpl. Can Soler, 21

Pvt. Adam L. Tatro, 19

Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38, Marine Air Control Group 38

Cpl. Eric J. Martinez, 21

Marine Helicopter Squadron 1

Maj. John A. Brow, 39

Maj. Brooks S. Gruber, 34

Cpl. Kelly S. Keith, 22

Marine Tilt-Rotor Training Squadron 204

Staff Sgt. William B. Nelson, 30

Done