SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. — Two soldiers killed in an Army Black Hawk helicopter crash in California late Thursday were identified Saturday, according to the Department of Defense.
Staff Sgt. Vincent Marketta, 33, of Brick, New Jersey, and Sgt. Tyler Shelton, 22, of San Bernardino, California were Black Hawk helicopter repairers assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.
Five soldiers were aboard the helicopter when it crashed during a training exercise off the Southern California coast, the newspaper reported. The other three soldiers on board the helicopter were injured.
On Thursday, Staff Sgt. Vincent P. Marketta, 33, of Brick, N.J., and Sgt. Tyler M. Shelton, 22, of San Bernardino, Calif., were killed in a helicopter crash during routine training according to @USArmy officials. https://t.co/RHziFXp82d
— Stars and Stripes (@starsandstripes) August 30, 2020
“The loss of Staff Sgt. Marketta and Sgt. Shelton has left a scar in this regiment that will never completely heal,” Col. Andrew Graham, commander of the 160th regiment, said in a statement. “Our priority now is to ensure the families of our fallen warriors receive our complete support as we work through this tragedy together.”
Army officials did not release details about the crash, the Union-Tribune reported.
Marketta enlisted in 2011 and was deployed to Afghanistan and several times to Iraq, according to the Army. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with “V” for valor.
Shelton enlisted in 2016 and was deployed to Afghanistan, the Army said. He was awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal and Afghanistan Campaign Medal.
Army officials said both soldiers will receive the Meritorious Service Medal posthumously, the Union-Tribune reported.
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