4 months ago
SACRAMENTO, CA - As the search continued for seven Sacramento-based crewmen lost in the suspected crash of a Coast Guard C-130 and a Marine Corps helicopter, Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento officials thanked the national and international organizations that rallied support for their outpost since Thursday's crash.
"We are very thankful that we have had an outpouring of support from throughout the United States," Air Station Sacramento operations officer Cmdr. Mitchell Morrison said. "We feel very blessed that we have had that support."
Station executive officer Cmdr. Greg Buxa said since Thursday's crash near San Clemente Island, Coast Guard units from the Bay Area and beyond have pitched in to help the depleted Sacramento station maintain its patrol responsibilities.
A C-130 crew from Barbers Point, Hawaii, arrived Friday to help take over the Sacramento watch as well as help station personnel through the tragedy. A four-man Barbers Point helicopter crew died in September 2008 when their craft crashed during a training exercise.
Local agencies also stepped up to help the Air Station Sacramento community. A Sacramento Metro Fire incident management team moved in to help the station assemble data on the crash and respond to the accident. Meanwhile, Sacramento city fire personnel aided with staffing support, Mitchell said.
The missing crew members from the Coast Guard C-130 were identified as aircraft commander Lt. Cmdr. Che J. Barnes, 35, of Capay; co-pilot Lt. Adam W. Bryant, 28, of Crewe, Va.; flight engineer Chief Petty Officer John F. Seidman, 43, of Carmichael; navigator Petty Officer 2nd Class Carl P. Grigonis, 35, from Mayfield Heights, Ohio; radio operator Petty Officer 2nd Class Monica L. Beacham, 29, of Decaturville, Tenn.; Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason S. Moletzsky, 26, of Norristown, Pa.; and drop master Petty Officer 3rd Class Danny R. Kreder II, 22, from Elm Mott, Tex.
News10/KXTV
