Sorrow for the Fallen : Service Honors 4 Marines Presumed Dead in Crash

EL TORO — Rodolfo Guajardo, the father of one of four Marines presumed killed in a helicopter crash this month, slowly walked away from a memorial service Monday clutching a folded American flag.

“He was going to be 22 soon,” Guajardo said as he sought a wall to lean on for support. “We don’t know what happened.”

More than 400 mourners attended the service at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station for the four Marines presumed dead after their CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter crashed at sea May 10.

The victims were Lance Cpl. Rodolfo Guajardo Jr. of Beach Park, Ill.; Maj. Dennis A. Dogs, 34, the pilot, of Mission Viejo; Capt. Paul D. Barnes, 27, of Lawrenceburg, Ky.; and Cpl. Michael J. Tsoris, 21, of Racine, Wis.

The Navy has released no information about its ongoing investigation of the accident, which occurred during a training exercise.

The helicopter crashed into the water six miles off northern San Diego County moments after its 9:30 p.m. takeoff from the ship Juneau, investigators said.

Searchers recovered only some debris and a portion of the fuselage from the helicopter, a 45-foot, double-engine aircraft that is among the oldest models in the U.S. military.

Lt. Col. Pat O’Donogue, who was the Marines’ squadron commander, said the squadron took a day off after the crash to deal with the loss of their four colleagues.

O’Donogue, who attended the memorial service, said he considered Dogs a “very competent” pilot, “a true professional Marine.”

“He was a pilot who was very capable and had flown before in similar circumstances,” O’Donogue said.

Navy Chaplain Tom Atkins said he was aware of the additional hardship the families faced being unable to bury their loved ones.

“These families will always have those questions, because there are no bodies, and it will be tough for them to have closure. Hopefully, one day, the bodies will be discovered,” Atkins said.