BOISE, Idaho — University of Washington ROTC honored the life of Idaho Marine Benjamin Moulton Thursday evening. Dozens showed up.
Moulton is one of five marines killed in a helicopter crash on Feb. 6. The 27-year-old is an Emmett High School alum. He graduated early from UW in 2018.
Not only was he in ROTC, but Moulton's dad previously told KTVB he was also captain of the boxing team.
Allen Adkins, Naval ROTC commander, did not know Moulton. However, Adkins said he learned about his character by listening to stories during the memorial.
"It was all positive and kind of focused more on what Ben had done for them," Adkins said. "He was the friend they could count on how; he went out of his way to make sure he took care of his Marines, his students when he was an upperclassman."
Moulton enlisted in 2019 and was promoted to captain last year. During his service, the Department of Service said he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal.
On Friday, the U.S. Marine Corps released the names of the five Marines who died when their helicopter went missing as a historic storm dumped heavy snow and record rain over California. Their crashed helicopter was located on Wednesday in rough terrain in Pine Valley, near San Diego.
All were assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and were based at Marine Corps Air Station in Miramar, California.
The Marine Corps identified the following victims:
- Capt. Benjamin Moulton, 27, of Emmett, Idaho, a CH-53E helicopter pilot.
- Capt. Jack Casey, 26, of Dover, New Hampshire, a CH-53E helicopter pilot.
- Capt. Miguel Nava, 28, of Traverse City, Michigan, a CH-53E helicopter pilot.
- Lance Cpl. Donovan Davis, 21, of Olathe, Kansas, a CH-53E helicopter crew chief.
- Sgt. Alec Langen, 23, of Chandler, Arizona, a CH-53E helicopter crew chief.
The helicopter carrying the Marines was a CH-53E Super Stallion, the largest helicopter in the military. Defense officials said the craft is designed to fly in harsh conditions.
Authorities said the Super Stallion vanished late Tuesday night while flying to the Miramar base in San Diego from Creech Air Force Base, located northwest of Las Vegas. All five marines were based at Miramar.
The Marine Corps has not said how the crash happened. They are still investigating. In the meantime, Adkins said UW ROTC will send Moulton's family a folded flag they flew in remembrance over one of the halls.
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