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Search for missing Marines continues into third day

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KRYSTLE MARCELLUS / KMARCELLUS@STARADVERTISER.COM

Haleiwa Alii Beach Park remains closed for the search to find the 12 missing Marines who were on the two helicopters that crashed off the North Shore on Thursday.

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KRYSTLE MARCELLUS / KMARCELLUS@STARADVERTISER.COM

Personnel continued their search for 12 U.S. Marines and helicopter debris at Haleiwa Alii Beach Park in Haleiwa on Sunday, January 17, 2016. Two CH-53E helicopters impacted the water off the coast of Haleiwa on January 14, leaving 12 missing.

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KRYSTLE MARCELLUS / KMARCELLUS@STARADVERTISER.COM

Haleiwa Alii Beach Park remained closed as personnel continued their search for 12 U.S. Marines and helicopter debris on Sunday, January 17, 2016. Two CH-53E helicopters impacted the water off the coast of Haleiwa on January 14, leaving 12 missing.

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KRYSTLE MARCELLUS / KMARCELLUS@STARADVERTISER.COM

Haleiwa Alii Beach Park remained closed as personnel continued their search for 12 U.S. Marines and helicopter debris on Sunday, January 17, 2016. Two CH-53E helicopters impacted the water off the coast of Haleiwa on January 14, leaving 12 missing.

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KRYSTLE MARCELLUS / KMARCELLUS@STARADVERTISER.COM

Beachgoers trickled onto the sand as the water remained open and personnel continued their search for 12 U.S. Marines and helicopter debris near Haleiwa Alii Beach Park in Haleiwa on the morning of Sunday, January 17, 2016. Two CH-53E helicopters impacted the water off the coast of Haleiwa on January 14, leaving 12 missing.

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KRYSTLE MARCELLUS / KMARCELLUS@STARADVERTISER.COM

Personnel continued their search for 12 U.S. Marines and helicopter debris at Haleiwa Alii Beach Park in Haleiwa on Sunday, January 17, 2016. Two CH-53E helicopters impacted the water off the coast of Haleiwa on January 14, leaving 12 missing.

8/10
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KRYSTLE MARCELLUS / KMARCELLUS@STARADVERTISER.COM

Personnel continued their search for 12 U.S. Marines and helicopter debris at Haleiwa Alii Beach Park in Haleiwa on Sunday, January 17, 2016. Two CH-53E helicopters impacted the water off the coast of Haleiwa on January 14, leaving 12 missing.

9/10
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KRYSTLE MARCELLUS / KMARCELLUS@STARADVERTISER.COM

Personnel continued their search for 12 U.S. Marines and helicopter debris at Haleiwa Alii Beach Park in Haleiwa on Sunday, January 17, 2016. Two CH-53E helicopters impacted the water off the coast of Haleiwa on January 14, leaving 12 missing.

10/10
Swipe or click to see more

KRYSTLE MARCELLUS / KMARCELLUS@STARADVERTISER.COM

Personnel continued their search for 12 Marines and helicopter debris at Haleiwa Alii Beach Park today.

Federal, state, and county officials are searching for a third day today for 12 Marines who are missing after the two helicopters they were in crashed off Oahu.

Brig. Gen. Russell Sanborn, commanding general of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, who flew to Honolulu today from Okinawa for the search, said the top priority is taking care of the missing Marines and their families.

“Our thoughts and our prayers are with those Marine families out there,” Sanborn said at a press conference outside the search command post at Haleiwa Alii Beach Park. “The Marine Corps and me personally are here for them and to support them in any way we can.”

He also thanked the public for its support and to local first responders assisting in the search.

Sanborn, who was missing for several days after an aircraft crash in Desert Storm, said he and his wife understand the emotional rollercoaster the families are probably going through.

“We just want to let know that we’re here,” he said. “We’re here to put our arms around them and hug them, and let them know we love them. We’re going to do everything we can to support them.”

Coast Guard Capt. Jim Jenkins said the search effort on Sunday included Navy ships and aircraft, an Army helicopter, a Coast Guard patrol boat and a helicopter, lifeguards, police, firefighters, and the National Guard. About 45 Marines were searching the shoreline by foot, looking for debris.

The Coast Guard, who is leading the search, has been searching 24 hours a day since the crash was reported Thursday night.

He said the Coast Guard is using computer models to determine drift patterns and lay down search patterns. By the end of today, the Coast Guard will have completed 75 sorties and covered 15,000 square miles of search efforts.

The Coast Guard was searching from Kaena Point to Kahuku.

“We’re dedicated to trying to locate and bring back these service members and we’ll continue our efforts throughout today,” Jenkins said.

Lifeguards on personal watercraft also searched 160 miles from Kahuku to Haleiwa Since the search began, said Shayne Enright, Honolulu Emergency Services Department spokeswoman. She said search conditions were more favorable today and lifeguards would continue searching with two personal watercraft. An ambulance was also on standby at the beach park.

Jenkins said some debris consistent with the type of aircraft the Marines were in has been collected and turned over to the Marines who are investigating the cause of the crash.

The Marines said the helicopters did not have beacons onboard similar to those found on commercial airliners.

Jenkins said the Coast Guard has protocol for how long to search for survivors and will notify family members before ending the search.

“Everyday we analyze what we’ve done, we analyze the likelihood of any survivors and we’ll continue our efforts as long as needed,” he said.

On Saturday, the U.S. Marine Corps released the names of the 12 Marines. They are:

» Maj. Shawn M. Campbell, 41, College Station, Texas.

» Capt. Brian T. Kennedy, 31, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

» Capt. Kevin T. Roche, 30, St. Louis, Missouri.

» Capt. Steven R. Torbert, 29, Florence, Alabama.

» Sgt. Dillon J. Semolina, 24,Chaska, Minnesota.

» Sgt. Adam C. Schoeller, 25, Gardners, Pennsylvania.

» Sgt. Jeffrey A. Sempler, 22, Woodruff, South Carolina.

» Sgt. William J. Turner, 25, Florala, Alabama.

» Cpl. Matthew R. Drown, 23, Spring, Texas.

» Cpl. Thomas J. Jardas, 22, Fort Myers, Florida.

» Cpl. Christopher J. Orlando, 23, Hingham, Massachusetts.

» Lance Cpl. Ty L. Hart, 21, Aumsville, Oregon.

Anyone seeing debris from the crash is asked to report it to the Marines at 808-257-8458 or 808-257-3023.

9 responses to “Search for missing Marines continues into third day”

  1. allie says:

    I think this is a recovery effort now.

    • 8082062424 says:

      i agree . these poor souls the odds were not in there favor. the time this happen the waves and current, unless they were supper strong swimmers they had very little chance and they were not dressed to be in the water your clothes can be your enemy in the ocean. hope i’m wrong and they found only a miracle will do

  2. Konadreamer says:

    I think the only logical conclusion is that they are on the ocean bottom. As quickly as the rescue choppers were launched and they only found some floating debris should tell you that they are probably on the bottom with the helicopters they were in.

  3. 8082062424 says:

    My heart and prayers go out to the families. not sure they should have closed the beach though it looks like a tent city out there. locals might have been some help

  4. iwanaknow says:

    We have reached the point of low/no returns…..time to call it off and pack it in?….no black boxes to recover?

  5. Upperkula says:

    God bless our Marines.

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