Coast Guard suspends search for 12 missing Marines
KRYSTLE MARCELLUS / KMARCELLUS@STARADVERTISER.COM
Beachgoers at Turtle Bay watched as personnel continued their search for 12 U.S. Marines and helicopter debris along the North Shore on Monday.
DENNIS ODA/DODA@STARADVERTISER.COM
Marines use all-terrain vehicles to coverrough terrain as they travel to Kaena Point to search for helicopter crash debris today.
COURTESY U.S. COAST GUARD
Brig. Gen. Russell Sandborn, commanding general, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Okinawa, Japan, and Capt. Jim Jenkins, chief of staff, Coast Guard 14th District, receive information about the ongoing search for 12 missing Marines during a briefing at the incident command post in Haleiwa today.
The U.S. Coast Guard suspended the search for the 12 missing Marines off Haleiwa at sunset.
“The decision to suspend the search without finding survivors is particularly difficult,” said U.S. Coast Guard Capt. James Jenkins.
A search, led by the Marine Corps, will continue for debris and remains, but the focus of the search is changing to a recovery and salvage operation.
An inquiry board will investigate the crash and come up with recommendations and findings.
Some aircraft debris has been recovered from the ocean floor about 2 miles from shore in 350 feet of water, Jenkins said.
A high surf warning is posted for Wednesday as wave faces are expected to rise to 30 to 40 feet on the North Shore, a factor which would have complicated the search had it continued Wednesday.
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The Coast Guard and other agencies searched for five days since two Kaneohe-base Marine Super Stallion helicopters crashed last week in the ocean about 2 miles from shore.
All four life rafts were recovered, but they were empty and there is no indication anyone had been on any of the rafts, based on their condition and lack of any personal effects, said Coast Guard Petty Officer Tara Mole.
A good Samaritan spotted the final raft on Monday afternoon, and a Coast Guard vessel recovered it 3 miles north of Oahu.
The search has covered 24,150 square miles of ocean and shoreline between Haleiwa and Kahuku.
The CH-53E helicopters carrying six crew members each failed to return to Marine Corps Base Hawaii following a nighttime training mission Thursday. Hours later, authorities spotted debris 2 1/2 miles off the coast.
Some of the life rafts were inflated, but it was unclear how they got that way. There are various ways that could happen, including a cord being pulled by debris, said Marine Capt. Timothy Irish.
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The Associated Press contributed to this story.
17 responses to “Coast Guard suspends search for 12 missing Marines”
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Tiger shark country.
What about the efforts of the Navy divers and their sophisticated underwater sonar devices that they tow around to look for wreckage on the ocean bottom? Are they hanging it up too, after only 2 days of searching?
from the article:
“A high surf warning is posted for Wednesday as wave faces are expected to rise to 30 to 40 feet on the North Shore, a factor which would have complicated the search had it continued Wednesday.
The Coast Guard and other agencies searched for five days since two Kaneohe-base Marine Super Stallion helicopters crashed last week in the ocean about 2 miles from shore.”
Should we lose more people in the high surf and dangerous waters. They are gone and it is very sad but let’s not make it worse.
They should keep trying to see if they can find the copters. The Navy have the equipment to do it.
I hope the media will respect the privacy of the families.
How sad that 12 young Marines lost their lives. Life is precious. Make sure your family and friends know you love them. I was hoping they would continue for at least this week.
The ocean is larger than we think is. Got to be careful.
“Break, break, break,
On thy cold gray stones, O Sea!
And I would that my tongue could utter
The thoughts that arise in me.
O, well for the fisherman’s boy,
That he shouts with his sister at play!
O, well for the sailor lad,
That he sings in his boat on the bay!
And the stately ships go on
To their haven under the hill;
But O for the touch of a vanished hand,
And the sound of a voice that is still!
Break, break, break,
At the foot of thy crags, O Sea!
But the tender grace of a day that is dead
Will never come back to me. “
condolences to the families of the lost marines. condolences to the marine corps family.
condolences to all involved…
I keep seeing people suggesting that they search toward Kauai due to currents; wonder if they’re doing that?
Prayers and condolences for the families of those who perished…..our hearts are saddened and we grieve with you…….
“Fair Winds and Following Seas.
Saepe Expertus, Semper Fidelis, Frates Aeterni,
See You On The Other Side Brother”
Brothers in Valor are safe in God’s hands.
Nothing to add to all these touching and beautiful words of condolences and poetry. Knowing how many felt alike of the loss of these men are truly a united America! God Bless!
My heart goes out to all families.
i hope the accident investigation board doesn’t take the easy way out and blame pilot error. i see a strong probability that the aircraft were targeted and attacked by someone with a green laser due to the reports that rescue aircraft were targeted and attacked by a green laser. green lasers can blind pilots resulting in loss of control of the aircraft and this has happened at barber’s point a number of times. if one or both pilots, on one or both aircraft, were affected by a green laser to the point of not being able to see, this could have resulted in loss of aircraft control and subsequent collision. there is no way a pilot could protect him/herself from the laser and, once blinded, would require some time before their vision was good enough to pilot an aircraft. since there was no recording equipment on the aircraft we will never know what went on in either cockpit but the probability of green lasers MUST be taken into consideration.
i consider anything used against an aircraft that could result in its destruction as an attack. this could be by enemy aircraft, surface to air missiles, aaa fire, for low aircraft rpgs, rifle and even pistol fire, and, of course, green lasers.