Richland Marine, 15 Others Dead in KC-130T Plane Crash
A KC-130T plane transporting 16 soldiers to an Arizona station crashed in Mississippi, killing all of the troops on board. Among the lost was Dietrich Schmieman, USMC Raider and Hanford Class of 2009 graduate.
It's unknown what caused the crash, but it had two impact sites and is expected to take a week to clean. The FBI, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms are assisting in the "recovery" phase of the crash. The plane was also carrying weapons and ammunition. The plane was traveling from North Carolina when it crashed in a Mississippi soybean field. It's the worst Marine air disaster since 2005, when 30 Marines lost their lives. No cause has been revealed, but there is speculation the plane could have broken apart in mid-air. It was lost from radar while in Mississippi. The plane burst into flames, upside down in the field. The crew did not try to land the plane. There were bodies found over a mile from the wreckage. The President took to Twitter, sending his condolences, calling the crash "heartbreaking."
Schmieman was a parachute jumper in the Marines. He had been recently parachuting with his father over Memorial Day. As brave as Marines are, they should never be afraid to board a plane to camp. It's just so sad. Rest easy, Dietrich.
You can now donate to the Fallen Raiders - MARSOC Foundation fundraiser. The foundation offers support to former and current Raiders and their families. They also support the families of fallen Raiders. In just a few days, they've already raised over $46,000! If you'd like to show your support by donating, you can here.