Virginia Military Institute Alum Identified as One of the Marines Killed in California Helicopter Crash

LEXINGTON, Va. (WDBJ) – A former student of Virginia Military Institute (VMI) has been identified as one of the five marines who tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash in San Diego, California. The marine, Captain Jack Casey, graduated from VMI in 2019 and was on board the training flight when the incident occurred.

Captain Jack Casey was assigned to the Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, according to VMI. Hailing from New Hampshire, Casey graduated with a major in physics and demonstrated exceptional leadership during his time at VMI as the Company I commander for the 2018-19 academic year.

Recognizing his dedication and service, Casey was promoted to the rank of Captain in September 2023 and was honored with the National Defense Service Medal. His contributions and commitment were deeply appreciated by his fellow classmates and the VMI community.

VMI shared a heartfelt quote from Captain Eli Facemire, Casey’s former classmate and the 2019 VMI Class President, paying tribute to Casey’s character and impact:

“Jack was absolutely loved by our class, and all our brother rats knew that Jack loved them. He fully embraced his relationships and opportunities, setting an example of friendship and leadership that was admired not only by the younger cadets, but also by his peers. His charisma and humility shone through in all his actions, and his infectious, fun-loving attitude made him a tremendous joy to be around. He made a positive impact on everyone, and we will forever cherish our memories of him. As a class, we mourn with his loved ones and his closest companions. In times like these, we must rekindle and embrace the ‘brother rat spirit’ that Jack epitomized.”

The Department of Defense confirmed that the Marine Aircraft involved in the crash was a CH-53E Helicopter, which is the largest helicopter in the military. The helicopter was returning to the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego from the Creech Air Force Base, located northwest of Las Vegas. Unfortunately, the area experienced heavy rainfall and snowfall, making it challenging for search teams to locate the wreckage until 9 a.m. on Wednesday.

Efforts to recover the wreckage are currently underway, but Marine officials anticipate that the process may take several weeks. The recovery team is committed to bringing closure to this tragic incident and providing support to the families affected by the loss.