Biographical Information On I MEF Marines

Killed In Osprey Accident

                                     3rd Battalion, 5th Marines

 
 2ndLt. Clayton J. Kennedy
 Age:  24
 DOB:  751020
 MOS:  0302
 Unit:  1st Platoon
 Job Description:  Platoon commander
 Home of Record:  Clifton Bosque, Texas
 Date of Entry:  990124
 Marital status:  Married (wife Shari)
 Children:  None
 --Dedicated family man-married in Nov '99; tried to do everything the best
 that he could
 --Fellow platoon commander said "the kind of guy you want your kids to grow
 up and be like"
 --He was really in tune with his men and he really cared about them; on the
 flight line in Yuma he bought everyone a soda.
 
 
 

 Sgt. Jose Alvarez
 Age:  28
 DOB:  711212
 MOS:  0331
 Unit:  Weapons Platoon
 Job Description:  Platoon commander
 Home of Record:  Uvalde, Texas
 Date of Entry:  900712
 Marital status:  Married (wife Alena)
 Children:  Daughter Dakota
 --To lieutenants, he set an example of what a Marine platoon commander
 should be
 --He held Weapons Platoon together, according to one squad leader
 --His daughter was his life
 --His nickname was "Bum Scoop" because he was always coming up with rumors
 and everyone believed him.
 
 

 Cpl. Adam C. Neely
 Age:  22
 DOB:  770725
 MOS:  0311
 Unit:  1st Platoon
 Job Description:  Fire team leader
 Home of Record:  Winthrop, Wash.
 Date of Entry:  970127
 Marital status:  Married (wife Jennifer)
 Children*:  Stepdaughter Elizabeth
 Jennifer is pregnant with their first child together
 --He was an excellent father and husband
 -- He came back off shoulder surgery wanting to prove himself.  "He wanted
 everyone to know he was ready to train and do it all over
 
 
 Cpl. Can Soler
 Age:  21
 DOB:  781217
 MOS:  0311
 Unit:  1st Platoon
 Job Description:  Fire team leader
 Home of Record:  Palm City, Fla.
 Date of Entry:  961217
 Marital status:  Single
 Children:  None
 Father:  Ozcan Soler
 Mother:  Saziye Soler
 -- Teacher, friend and fighter
 --He was the ultimate Marine. The last thing he did 10 minutes before he got
 on the Osprey was give a class on the M240-G.  He was always training and
 teaching new Marines
 -- Without question he loved the Corps more than anyone -- that was his life
 
 

 L/Cpl. Jason T. Duke
 Age:  28
 DOB:  720329
 MOS:  0331
 Unit:  Weapons Platoon
 Job Description:  Machinegunner
 Home of Record:  Sacramento, Calif.
 Date of Entry:  990405
 Marital status:  Single
 Children:  None
 Father:  Thomas Duke
 --He took care of his section. He was aggressive and stubborn, but he got
 things done."
 --Before he came in the Corps, he did everything he wanted to do. He could
 carry four guys on him trying to tackle him in football.
 --He was a renaissance man -- he could do anything, according to one platoon
 mate
 
 

 L/Cpl. Jesus Gonzalessanchez
 Age:  27
 DOB:  730405
 MOS:  0351
 Unit:  Weapons Platoon
 Job Description:  Assaultman
 Home of Record:  San Diego, Calif.
 Date of Entry:  990222
 Marital status:  Single
 Children:  None
 Mother:  Amparo Sanchez
 --People should remember his love for the Corps
 --Gonzalez was a PT stud who lived and breathed the gym. He always asked for
 time to work out and lift weights
 
 

 L/Cpl. Jorge A. Morin
 Age:  21
 DOB:  790328
 MOS:  0351
 Unit:  1st Platoon
 Job Description:  Assaultman
 Home of Record:  McAllen, Texas
 Date of Entry:  990310
 Marital status:  Single
 Children:  None
 Mother:  Celia Morin
 --He was a great guy, the type to pick on you when you messed up, but he'd
 come back later to talk to you about it. He didn't look down on anyone. He
 held things together. If someone was fighting, he'd negotiate and calm them
 down.
 --He just celebrated his 21st birthday
 -- You have a guy in your squad who you want to mold and give him everything
 you know
 
 

 L/Cpl. Seth G. Jones
 Age:  18
 DOB:  810609
 MOS:  0351
 Unit:  Weapons Platoon
 Job Description:  Assaultman
 Home of Record:  Bend, Ore.
 Date of Entry:  990223
 Marital status:  Single
 Children:  None
 Father:  Daniel Jones
 Mother:  Michele Tytlar
 --He was a big hockey buff .  He had a hockey shrine in his room with a
 stick, puck, goalie mask, skates and his jersey.
 --He will always be remembered for his smile. Despite any bad times around
 him, he was always lighthearted on the inside
 -- He came into the Corps at age 17
 
 

 PFC Kenneth O. Paddio
 Age:  23
 DOB:  760606
 MOS:  0311
 Unit:  1st Platoon
 Job Description:  Rifleman
 Home of Record:  Houston, Texas
 Date of Entry:  990222
 Marital status:  Single
 Children:  None
 Mother:  Ella Paddio
 --He always talked about crawdads and Louisiana. He loved home cooking, like
 gumbo by the pound
 --He was quiet, but when given a task, he was always ready
 --He was the first one to jump up for working parties.
 --When asked how long he was staying in the Corps, he would say however long
 my mother makes me stay in
 
 

 PFC Gabriel C. Clevenger
 Age:  21
 DOB:  790128
 MOS:  0331
 Unit:  Weapons Platoon
 Job Description:  Machinegunner
 Home of Record:  Picher, Okla.
 Date of Entry:  990330
 Marital status:  Single
 Children:  None
 Father:  Charles Clevenger
 Mother:  Mary Clevenger
 --One of his platoon mates gave Clevenger his PFC chevrons the day he died,
 because he'd gotten promoted in the field. The chevrons were still sitting
 on his cot when the platoon got back.
 
 

 PFC Alfred Corona
 Age:  23
 DOB:  761026
 MOS:  0331
 Unit:  Weapons Platoon
 Job Description:  Machinegunner
 Home of Record:  San Antonio, Texas
 Date of Entry:  990331
 Marital status:  Married (wife Maria D C B Puerco)
 Children:  Marc (age 4)
 --He would always keep his platoon mates up at night telling the funniest
 stories in the hooch. He'd wake everyone up because others were laughing so
 hard.
 --Corona loved chess. There wasn't anyone who could beat him in the whole
 company, not even the lieutenants
 
 

 PFC Keoki P. Santos
 Age:  24
 DOB:  751008
 MOS:  0311
 Unit:  1st Platoon
 Job Description:  Rifleman
 Home of Record:  Grand Ronde, Ore.
 Date of Entry:  990308
 Marital status:  Single
 Children:  None
 Mother:  Christina A. Mercier
 --He was older than most PFCs, and he knew how to take his responsibilities
 --He was trying to beat his sergeants on the PFT and in the weight room
 
 

 PFC George P. Santos
 Age:  19
 DOB:  800902
 MOS:  0311
 Unit:  1st Platoon
 Job Description:  Rifleman
 Home of Record:  Long Beach, Calif.
 Date of Entry:  990406
 Marital status:  Single
 Children:  None
 Father:  Conrad Santos
 Mother:  Guadalupe Santos
 -- He was a radioman.  He knew his job and quickly learned how to call for
 fire
 
 
 Pvt. Adam L. Tatro
 Age:  19
 DOB:  810404
 MOS:  0311
 Unit:  1st Platoon
 Job Description:  Rifleman
 Home of Record:  Brownwood, Texas
 Date of Entry:  990218
 Marital status:  Single
 Children:  None
 PNOK:  Misty Weldy (relationship unknown)
 --He was always full of energy, bouncing around. He looked forward to
 picking up PFC and was all ready to go up for a meritorious lance corporal
 board
 
                                                   MACG-38
 
 

 Cpl. Eric J. Martinez
 Age:  21
 DOB:  781228
 MOS:  2531
 Unit:  Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38
 Job Description:  Field radio operator
 Home of Record:  Flagstaff, Arizona
 Date of Entry:  April 22, 1998
 Marital status:  Single
 Children:  None
 Father:  Ronald J. Martinez
 Mother:  Consuelo Martinez
 --He was a stellar Marine. Two NAM's, NCO of the quarter, career oriented.
 --He had orders to MSG school for this summer.
 --He volunteered to do the NEO. He wanted to be on that mission with your
 Marines. He was proud to be with them.
 --The detail that prepared his gear for shipment told me that, although he
 had been deployed nearly a month, they found his room and wallocker
 "inspection ready". Great young man who was proud to be a Marine.