The Crash in Iraq 07 Feb 2007 HM1 Gilbert Minjares Jr. and HM3 Manuel A. Ruiz

[dustmans]

Earlier today I heard (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/08/world/middleeast/08helicopter.html?_r=1&ref=world&oref=slogin) on the news that a CH-46 went down in Iraq and everything stopped as I searched the news for details. My first trip out to Iraq, I flew in 46’s flying CASEVAC and it’s a small community, if you do it long enough, you get know everybody. With 7 deaths in the crash, it wasn’t likely a troop transport run which means it’s was probably a CASEVAC mission.

Word’s not out yet with names or the unit the aircraft belongs to and that won’t happen till the families notified. I’m selfish, hoping that I don’t know any of the dead, saying goodbye is one of the hardest things to do. This one hits way too close to home, it could have me a dozen times over. Six crashes in 18 days, it's troubling news to myself and other corpsman who I work with. We're all part of the Marine aviation community and chances are, we will be heading back out there again before too long.

[Da-Chief]

Dustmans,

Do me a favor. If you find out email me first before posting here. I need to make sure NOK have been notified prior to us putting it out.

Last night on the news they said there were 5 MARINES and 2 Sailors. I can guess, but I don't want to put "ANYTHING" out until I am sure..

Thanks!
HMC

[Obnoxio]

Im watching the news pretty closely as well. I have alot of friends in the SAR/Casevac community, and heard there were two sailors onboard. I hate it either way, whether I knew them or not.



Also hate to hear we lost a 46, I have 1200 hours in Phroggs. Thye dont build em like that anymore.



Will be watching this thread closely.

-HM3(NAC/FMF) USN ret.

Phroggs Phorever

[Da-Chief]

I agree these old warhorses are awesome, I have flown many a hour in them.

V/R
HMC

[Da-Chief]

OK, it has been confirmed we have lost 2 HM's onboardthe crash. I have the names, but there is a question as to if the NOK were notified. It has gone about like wildfire among our community, but I don't want to post it here until I am sure. I don't want a parent or a Family member to find out here.

Rest assured, I will post it once I get the word.

All of you who are registered have been notifed by private email as to whom it was, please don't post anything here until I have the go ahead.

Thanks, and please keep them, thier family and Shipmates, Marines in your prayers..

Don't only pray for them though, pray for those who are still over there doing the mission.

V/R

HMC Crone

[dustmans]

Here's the info on HN Ruiz (http://www.jems.com/news/277887/)was flying CASEVAC in Iraq, I haven't seen the other name identified on the news yet.

[hm1park]

I've heard the news as well and instantly scrambling like othersto see if it was some fellow shipmates that I knew were with that squadron and serving that mission. We also have lost some Marines with the MEU on the same day different issue. I have no details to add, but it has us all talking out here. Our pilots mentioned they knew those pilots. Thank you for "reporting" from your end so that we can get some reassurances and closure to what the news is. The boredom here adds to the pain in waiting and not knowing details of things. You'd think we'd be the first to know but most of the time our families are asking us questions before we get out of "river city"(outgoing email/phones closed down) The first message I always send out is. "I'm fine, our guys are fine, don't worry" I hope I can continue to send that message."

Thoughts and prayers to those 7Marines/Sailors families andfriendsin the ACE. Other Marines to speak of but I'll wait for more news on that.

Thanks again.

[Obnoxio]

HMC,

The names of both HM's lost in the incident were on the local news this morning, so I would assume NOK has been notified.



V/R,

-OB

[Da-Chief]

Yeah I found out for sure this AM.. I will be putting the Force message out here and when I get home putting the whole thing up on the front page and updating the tribute page.



I just found out some other info that one of our users here is terminally ill. Been a badweek for Corpsman.com.



V/R
HMC

[hm2flip]

Since we are not reporting names just yet, I just wanted to post that one of the Corpsman involved JUST had a new baby with his wife. His daughter isn't even a month old (DOB 1-11-07)...what a damn shame.

He was a friend and a hell of a co-worker! He will be missed.



FLIP

[crazycajun]

Thanks guys for keeping the names quiet.

It's been confirmed for sure that HM1 Gilbert Minjares and HN Manuel Ruiz were CASEVAC HMs flying in that CH-46.

I did know HM1 Minjares and had talked to him a bit.

This one hit me really hard.

[hm2flip]

Gil was my LPO in Patient Admin at NH Guam and when he went on to start up the Business office for the hospital, he recommended me to replace him...then when he was ready to transfer from the island all together, he recommended that I take his place in the business office. He was a hell of a guy and ran some of the best poker parties around.:D Gil, be at peace brother, you will be missed. A bunch of folks here in Millington remember him fondly.

If anyone knows anything about funeral arrangements, I'd sure like to know.



Thanks,



FLIP

[Corpsmankid]

This is Stephanie Hanson - daughter of Corpsman Gary Young KIA in Vietnam in a medevac helicopter crash on 2/7/69 while flying with the Purple Foxes (HMM-364).

It was the Purple Foxes again who lost a bird this past Wednesday in which Docs Gilbert Minjares and ManuelRuiz were flying in. We have a memorial posted at:

http://www.hmm-364.org

In addition, I am in touch with some of the families of the Foxes who died. They would like to get in touch with the other families. If anyone has contact information on how to get in touch with the families of either of the Docs, please email me at corpsmankid@hotmail.com (mailto:corpsmankid@hotmail.com) if you feel they would be interested in talking to the other families.

Thank you all for your service.

Stephanie

A Doc's Kid

[Da-Chief]

Thanks Stephanie..

On another note, I knew this last week via Stephanie, the Bird went down the same day her Fathers went down in Vietnam, same squadron, same day.

If you want to know about her Dad and her, please check out :

http://www.corpsman.com/history-n-lit.html

You can order the book, Great Read, Heartfelt, Moving book.

V/R
HMC

[crazycajun]

Update HM1 Minjares and HN Ruiz:

The Memorial Service for HM1 Minjares will be held tomorrow, 13 Feb 2007, at 1300 in the MCAS Cherry Point Chappel. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. The uniform is Woodland Digital Utilities, no flight suits or coveralls.

The Memorial Service for HN Ruis will be held tomorrow, 13 Feb 2007, at 1300 in the Gottage(sp) Field House. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. Uniform of the day? Didn't receive the specifics on this one.

I do not have information on the Funerals as of this time. Will put information out once received.

[hm2flip]

DAMN,



Figures I check my email too late. I don't think I could make it to Cherry Point in time for the memorial even if I started a hellride right now. If you are going, know that my heart is with you.





FLIP

[crazycajun]

Flip,

Rest assured that I'll be there tomorrow!

[DocGarza]

I had the pleasure of knowing HM1 Minjares and working with him time to time at the WSO. I had first met HM1 as he saw that I had my CAC (Combat Aircerw Wings). He would ask how was Casevac and what to expect? As many Corpsman know that the job is voluntary dangerous, but very rewarding. Rewarding in a sense of the lives you save. Saving Marines... He knowingly did this and I know in my heart that this was what he was still doing as they went down. I flew Casevac back in 2005 with HMM-364(The Purple Foxes) and had many close calls even a crash landing outside Ramadi. You both will be greatly missed and will be in our prayers as well as the other Casevac Corpsman which many are close friends.

2 MEF CASEVAC TEAM

"RISE ALOFT ON SPINNING WINGS GLORY AINT A SONG WE SING IT'S OUR JOB, SERVING IN WAR HISTORIC HONOR OF THE HOSPITAL CORPS SO WHEN WERE DONE RESCUING NON-STOP JUST SHAKE OUR HAND AND SAY THANKS, DOC."

Here is a website that shows the video of the bird going down. If you have not seen this allready or not at heart to do so then do not proceed. http://www.liveleak.com click on IRAQ the video says shanook , but it isthere ch-46.

V/R

HM2(FMF/CAC) GARZA, FRANK D