Camp Lejeune Marines Awarded For Heroism After Osprey Crash

Camp Lejeune Marines Awarded For Heroism After Osprey Crash
WITN News
June 5, 2013

Five Camp Lejeune marines have been awarded the Navy and Marine Corps medal for heroism.

The marines were awarded for actions immediately after one of the 24th MEU's MV-22B Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft crashed during a training event in Morocco in April last year.

Without regard for their own safety the marines put their lives in danger to try and rescue the crew. Two marines were killed and two others severely injured during the incident.

The Marines awarded included:
• Gunnery Sgt. Joseph A. Alvarez, platoon commander, Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment
• Sgt. Daniel J. Beers, motor transport non-commissioned officer-in-charge, Combat Logistics Battalion 24
• Sgt. Christopher J. Ewain, assistant assault amphibious section leader, Alpha Co., BLT 1/2
• Cpl. Michael Z. Pearson, assistant assault amphibious section leader, Alpha Co., BLT 1/2
• Cpl. Steve T. Hanson, team leader, Bravo Co., BLT 1/2

A sixth Marine, Sgt. Merritt C. Huntley, a mortar section leader with Alpha Co., BLT 1/2, was not present during the ceremony due to training commitments but will be awarded the medal at a later date. The billets listed were the ones held by each Marine during the deployment. read more here