Team Marines Honor at Talladega: Hank Parker Jr.’s BGN entry at Talladega will honor the 19 Marines who lost their lives during a nighttime training mission Saturday at Marana Regional Airport, about 30 miles northwest of Tucson, AZ. Parker drives the #53 Rick Rathbun’s Team Marines Racing Chevrolet in the NASCAR Busch Series. Rathbun, a former Marine, wanted togive something back to the Corps, and initiated Rick Rathbun’s Team Marines Racing last year. RRTMR began sponsoring Hank Parker Jr.’s NASCAR Busch Series team late in the 1999 season, and the driver, race team and show cars have been tapped by the United States Marine Corps to bolster its recruiting efforts.There is no such thing as an ex-Marine, Rathbun added.Once you become a Marine, you are a Marine for the rest of your life. Each and every Marine, no matter where you are, is your brother. I feel as though I lost and our whole team lost 19 brothers Saturday night in that tragedy. Our Talladega car will honor those Marines who lost their lives in that accident and will carry each of their names. In this gesture, we will extend our heartfelt condolences to their families and fellow Marines. The Marine Corps aircraft an MV-22 tilt-rotor Osprey – was attempting to land during a nighttime training mission and crashed, killing all 19 aboard. The four crewmembers who perished in the crash were from a task force headquartered in Quantico, VA. They are:
Maj. John A. Brow, 39, pilot, Marine Helicopter Squadron 1, California, MD
Maj. Brooks S. Gruber, 34, pilot, Marine Helicopter Squadron 1, Jacksonville, NC
Cpl. Kelly S. Keith, 22, aircraft crew chief, Marine Helicopter Squadron 1, Florence, SC
Staff Sgt. William B. Nelson, 30, aerial observer/mechanic, Marine Tilt-Rotor Training Squadron 204, Richmond, VA
The following passengers were from Camp Pendleton, Calif. – 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division:
Sgt. Jose Alvarez, 28, machine gunner, Uvalde, TX
Pfc. Gabriel C. Clevenger, 21, machine gunner, San Antonio, TX
Pfc. Alfred Corona, 23, machine gunner, San Antonio, TX
Lance Cpl. Jason T. Duke, 28, machine gunner, Sacramento, CA
Lance Cpl. Jesus Gonzalez Sanchez, 27, assaultman, San Diego, CA
Lance Cpl. Seth G. Jones, 18, assaultman, Bend, OR
2nd Lt. Clayton J. Kennedy, 24, platoon commander, Clifton Bosque, TX
Lance Cpl. Jorge A. Morin, 21, assaultman, McAllen, TX
Cpl. Adam C. Neely, 22, rifleman, Winthrop, WA
Pfc. Kenneth O. Paddio, 23, rifleman, Houston, TX
Pfc. George P. Santos, 24, rifleman, Long Beach, CA
Pfc. Keoki P. Santos, 24, rifleman, Grand Ronde, OR
Cpl. Can Soler, 21, rifleman, Palm City, FL
Pvt. Adam L. Tatro, 19, Brownwood, TX
From Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif.:
Cpl. Eric J. Martinez, 21, field radio operator, Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38, Marine Air Control Group 38, Flagstaff, AZ(Team Marines PR)(4-11-2000)
