Memorial services were conducted at 1300, 20 December 1999 in the Base Theater, Mainside, Camp Pendleton, CA.  CMC and CG, MARFORPAC were in attendance.  The Memorial Services were held for those deceased listed above.

All were reported missing and presumed dead.  Their CH-46 helicopter got tangled with the
netting on the USNS Pecos and the pilot lost control and was pitched upside down into the Pacific Ocean off Point Loma, CA.  All Force Recon personnel were from the 5th Platoon.   They were standing up and preparing to "Fast Rope" on to the deck of the USNS Pecos as part of a training exercise in preparation for deployment with the 15th MEU(SOC) next month.  This was a Joint Operation with the SEALS, who were in the water aboard their boats preparing to assault from the sea.  As the "bird" quickly sank (5 seconds), eleven (11) survivors "popped up" to the surface and were immediately picked up by the SEALs.  Preliminary recovery efforts were unable to locate the bodies of the missing in the 3600 feet of water where the accident occurred.  All of the deceased were later recovered after an extensive search and recovery effort was conducted. 

The Eleven (11) survivors were:
CAPT. JAMES I. LUKEHART, JR, HMM-166, CLARK, OH
CAPT. ANDREW Q. SMITH, HMM-166, GA
CAPT. ERIC L. KAPITULIK, 1ST FORCE RECON - GROSVENORDALE, CT
1STLT MICHAEL J. BUTLER, 1ST FORCE RECON - COBB, GA
GYSGT. VOJIN MARJANOVICH, 1ST FORCE RECON - LAKE STATION, IN
SSGT. TIMOTHY J. MUELLER, 1ST FORCE RECON - DONIPHAN, KS
SSGT. MICHAEL S. ARCHER, 1ST FORCE RECON - ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, FL
SSGT. MARK R. SCHMIDT, 1ST FORCE RECON - MARSHALLTOWN, LA
SSGT. ROBERT G. WARD, 1ST FORCE RECON - TACOMA, WA
SGT. ROBERT T. EVERS, HMM-166, SPOKANE, WA
CPL. ADAM L. JOHNS, HMM-166, BUTLER, OH

SCHOLARSHIP TRUST FUND
The FRA has established a SCHOLARSHIP TRUST FOR THE SURVIVING CHILDREN of those tragically lost.  The children are Frederick GALLOWAY, Age 7, Stetson GALLOWAY, Age 5 and William GALLOWAY, Age 4, all sons of SSgt. David E. GALLOWAY;   Nicholas
SABASTEANSKI, Age 18 Months, son of SSgt. Vincent  A. SABASTEANSKI;   Derek
BACA, son of Cpl. Mark A. Baca.  HM1 Asis and SSgt Starling had no known children at this
time.

Those desiring to make a donation to this Special Scholarship Trust may make their check or
money order payable to "FRA SCHOLARSHIP TRUST FUND" and add a memo indicating if
you want it donated to an individual "By Name" child or to be "Evenly Split" amongst all 5 children.

No specific designation of donation will be evenly divided amongst all 5 children.   Mail your
donation(s)  to:

FORCE RECON ASSOCIATION
3784-B MISSION AVE., PMB # 1775
OCEANSIDE, CA  92054- 1460

Semper Fi,
Gary "Buddha" Marte
Major, USMC, Retired
Executive Director, Force Recon Association
Office (760) 439 - 8633
FAX (760) 725 - 3221
EMail: GMarte@aol.com