A Sad day for Marines

This has been over the wire since last night with no confirmation, now this has been released, it is a sad day for Marines, their families and our country.

NBC News: At least 30 Marines killed in crash of U.S. helicopter in Iraq.
Aircraft was transporting 1st Marine Division forces in western Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq - At least 30 U.S. Marines were killed Wednesday after their helicopter crashed in the western desert area of Iraq, officials told NBC News.

There were apparently no survivors among the Marines on board the CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopter that crashed near Ar Rutbah, officials said.

According to the initial investigation, the helicopter was not shot down; rather it crashed due to a mechanical failure or poor weather conditions.

Iraq has been hit by severe sandstorms that had grounded all military aircraft two days ago.

News of the crash came as Iraq was hit by a fresh wave of violence aimed at destabilizing the nation ahead of Sunday's election.

[Batgirl]

Thirty-one US marines have been killed in a helicopter crash in western Iraq near the border with Jordan.

According to reports, the transport helicopter came down close to Ar Rutbah just after 1am in poor visibility.



It was carrying personnel from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and the 1st Marine Division.

Military officials said a search and rescue team was at the scene and an investigation was under way.

A Pentagon spokesman said the helicopter was a CH-53 Sea Stallion which is normally carries up to 37 passengers but can take up to 55.

The crash is believed to be the worst of its kind since the US led-invasion of Iraq almost two years ago.

It came on a day of ferocious attacks by insurgents on US troops and Iraqi civilians aimed at derailing Sunday's elections.

Four US Marines were killed in action in Anbar province and another American soldier died in a grenade attack north of Baghdad.

In the northern town of Riyadh, suicide bombers blew up two cars close to an Iraqi army post and police station. A third car exploded minutes later on a main road.

Four Iraqi policemen, two Iraqi soldiers and three civilians were killed and at least 12 people were injured, police said.

Shortly after the blasts, a US combat patrol heading to the scene came under small arms fire. Two soldiers were slightly wounded in the attack.

In Baquba, north of Baghdad, one Iraqi policeman was killed and at least eight people injured when gunmen fired on the local offices of three parties contesting the polls.

Sky

[DevilDogWannabe]

OMG Thats horrible. My sympathy goes out to those who lost loved ones in these trajedies. Semper Fi rest in peace.

[Garrett]

So i hear... God Bless and Semper Fi.

[USMCRET6391]

Semper Fi to them and all their families

[SR-25]

RIP. Semper Fi!

[RFleischman]

I couldn't belive it when i heard it on the news this morning, God bless their families. Semper Fi!

[LCpl Lamm]

Semper Fi and God Bless to the Marines and their families.

[Field_Sailor]

Rest in Peace, Brothers.

Seems that there was 30 Marines and one Navy corpsman in the CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopter which crashed.

A tragedy... RIP Marines..

[Chacon]

RIP Sad sad day felt sick to my stomach when i heard.

[AngelBear]

:USAflagne Thoughts and prayers to them and especially for their families.