Page 23 - Mariner Winter 2023 Volume 65 Issue 3 Jan

COASTIE CORNER

Remembering the Coast Guard, Marines

Crews Who Died in Mid-Air Collision

On October 29, 2009, a Coast Guard President Norma von Dohren, has been attending the
HC-130 transport plane and a Marine memorial service, on behalf of the Gold Country Chapter
of NERA since it started in 2009.
AH-1 Cobra helicopter collided off the
coast of Southern California.

All seven crewmembers of the Hercules CG 1705 plane,
based out of the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento,
perished along with two helicopter crewmen from Camp
Pendleton. The collision occurred about 15 miles east of
San Clemente Island in the Channel Islands chain, and
about 50 miles from San Diego. The Coast Guard plane
was conducting a search and rescue mission while the
Marine helicopter was engaged in a training mission when
they collided. Both were in a training area monitored by
Navy air traffic control in San Diego.
LT Taylor Mecham, Gold Chapter president Norma Von Dohren
AETCM Jeffrey Jones
Crew members from USCG 1705 included: Lt. Cmdr. Che
J. Barnes, aircraft commander; Lt. Adam W. Bryant, co-pi-
lot; Chief Petty Officer John F. Seidman, flight engineer;
Petty Officer 2nd Class Carl P. Grigonis, navigator; Petty
Officer 2nd Class Monica L. Beacham, radio operator;
Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason S. Moletszky, air crew; and
Petty Officer 3rd Class Danny R. Kreder II, drop master.

Maj. Samuel Leigh and First Lt. Thomas Claiborne died
aboard the Marine helicopter. Ever since that accident,
the Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento has been hold-
ing a memorial service to remember the Coast Guards and
Marines who died in that collision. Most recently, it held
a ceremony on October 28, 2022. NERA’s Gold Chapter Coast Guards in their PT gear running several miles, after the
ceremony. They do this every year after the memorial ceremony.

Active personnel of the Air Station in attendance at this solemn Relatives of the fallen leaving bouquets of flowers by the
ceremony. Memorial.

The Naval Enlisted Reserve Association 23