CH-53 squadron confirms 6 dead in Afghanistan - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times

CH-53 squadron confirms 6 dead in Afghanistan

Six Marines assigned to a CH-53D squadron in Afghanistan died in a helicopter crash Thursday, their squadron commander said Friday in an online Facebook message.

Lt. Col. Mark Revor, commander of Marine Helicopter Squadron 363, out of Marine Corps Base Hawaii, said the families of the dead already had been notified. Their names will be released within a day, Revor said.

“With deep sorrow I have to confirm the news stories that you probably have already heard,” he said. “Last night we lost six members of the squadron during… combat operations.”

In a subsequent Facebook message, the squadron announced that families of Marines in the squadron were invited to meet Friday night in the chapel on base in Hawaii. The meeting is open only to HMH-363 families.

Revor’s announcement came one day after the helicopter crashed in Helmand province. The International Security Assistance Force announced the crash Thursday night, saying that six ISAF service members had been killed, and initial reports indicated there was no enemy activity in the area. The Taliban took credit for shooting down a helicopter near Helmand’s Musa Qala district, although it called it a Chinook.

Reps. Colleen Hanabusa and Mazie Hirono, both D-Hawaii, released statements saying they were aware of the crash.

“The loss of the six U.S. Marines in yesterday’s crash in Afghanistan comes as tragic news for our island community and our nation,” Hirono said. “We owe them and all of our brave servicemen and women a debt of gratitude for their dedication to our country.”

HMH-363’s “Red Lions” deployed to Afghanistan in August, replacing Hawaii’s HMH-463. The squadrons have performed medium-lift missions, ferrying troops and equipment around the battlefield.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.