Jacksonville Mourns For Fallen 16

Friends, strangers mourn for the fallen 16 at the Freedom Fountain

Jacksonville Daily News
By Amanda Thames
Posted Jul 14, 2017

"But no matter how they leave this world, it’s the fact that a military man is no longer living that was the focus of those gathered Friday."

The only sound in the moment of silence was Jacksonville’s Freedom Fountain.

The fountain’s jets had been turned off -- all but one, the Freedom jet, in honor of 16 men.

The community gathered around the Fountain Friday for an observance to honor the seven raiders and nine reservists who died in an airplane crash this week.

Members of the community stood before the fountain holding photos of the 16 men, flipping a black-backed card up to show a photo of each of the men as their names and biographies were read over the speaker.

As the first name was read, Sydney Mayo and a friend held tissues to their faces, crumpled in their hands, as tears mixed with sweat on their faces.

It was a tragically true statement for two widows, Ami Little and Shari Chaney, whose husbands both died while serving. Sgt. James Little and Master Sgt. Ronald Chaney, both died of suicide after fighting a war against PTSD in the midst of fighting for their country, Chaney said.
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Florida Marine Killed in Plane Crash

Florida Marine among 16 killed in Mississippi military crash

Associated Press

7:37 AM, Jul 13, 2017

Joseph Murray

The 15 Marines and a Navy sailor killed in a plane crash Monday in Mississippi came from all over the country, including Florida. 

Six of the Marines and the sailor were from an elite Marine Raider battalion at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. 

Nine were based out of Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York, home of a Marine Aerial Refueling and Transport Squadron.

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Marine Corps Cargo Plane Crash: At Least 16 Dead

UPDATE from (CNN) Fifteen Marines and a Navy corpsman who were killed when their transport plane crashed in the Mississippi Delta were on a training flight moving personnel and equipment from North Carolina to California, a Marine Corps spokesman said Tuesday.


Marine Corps cargo aircraft crashes in Mississippi, killing at least 16
Washington Post
By Thomas Gibbons-Neff
July 10, 2017

A Marine Corps cargo plane often used for hauling fuel and supplies crashed in western Mississippi Monday night, killing at least 16 people, local officials said.

Fred Randle, director of emergency management for LeFlore County, said 16 bodies have been recovered from the crash site.

In a brief statement, the Marines said that a “KC-130 experienced a mishap the evening of July 10.” No other information was provided. In an email, Marine Corps spokeswoman Capt. Sarah Burns confirmed that the statement correlated to the crash in Mississippi.

Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Director Lee Smithson told the Clarion-Ledger that the aircraft crashed on the Leflore-Sunflower county line, a rural stretch of woods and fields with dense underbrush and vegetation about 85 miles north of Jackson. Earlier, Sheriff Ricky Banks told the Ledger that five of the crew members were confirmed dead. It is unclear where the plane took off from.
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UPDATE

General: Plane developed in air problems that led to fatal crash

92 Lost in Black Sea Russian Military Plane Crash

No apparent survivors in deadly Russian plane crash
CNN
By Max Blau
Updated 6:02 AM ET, Sun December 25, 2016

(CNN)A Russian military plane reported missing Sunday with 92 people aboard has crashed, leaving no apparent survivors and a trail of plane wreckage in the Black Sea near Sochi, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

A Tupolev Tu-154 plane that was carrying 84 passengers and eight crew members disappeared from radar Sunday morning local time after taking off from the Adler airport near the Black Sea city, state-run RIA Novosti news agency reported.

The plane, which first took off from Moscow, was headed to the Russian Hmeymim airbase in Latakia, Syria, where the country has a large military presence, for a concert ahead of New Year's Eve, a source told Russia's state news agency Tass.
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