13 May 1944 – 26 August 1969
Long Island Nat’l Cemetery, Farmingdale, NY 11735

First Lieutenant Robert Brian Casey from Idaho Falls, Idaho was killed in an aircraft accident during A6 Intruder training at Cherry Point MCAS on 26 August 1969.

Robert Brian Casey “Brian” was born 13 May 1944 in Westerly, Rhode Island to Robert Ambrose Casey and Dorothy Louise Coyle. Brian had three younger siblings: brother Edward Coyle Casey and sisters, Janice A. Casey and Kathleen M. Casey. Brian’s father was a lifelong employee of the General Dynamics – Electric Boat Division and his job required him to move the family twice. The family moved from Rhode Island to Saratoga Springs, NY in 1953 and then on to Idaho Falls, ID in 1962. Brian attended and graduated from St. Peter’s Academy High School in Saratoga Springs. He lettered in football, baseball, and basketball. He was co-captain of the football team during his junior and senior years.

Brian was offered football scholarships from both Notre Dame and the University of Idaho. He selected the University of Idaho because it was closer to his family in Idaho Falls. After the first year of football, Brian had to abandon football and his scholarship due to a knee injury. He applied for and received an NROTC scholarship and put in four more years at U of Idaho obtaining a BA in English and Physical Education. He was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity for 5 years. Having been an NROTC with Marine option, Brian would most likely have attended the 6-week Bulldog PLC at Quantico, VA in the summer of 1966. In order to earn extra money, Brian would work on the potato farms in Idaho.

At graduation in June 1967, Brian accepted his Regular commission as a 2nd Lieutenant and was off to The Officers Basic School (TBS), Class 1-68, Alpha Company, 1st Platoon. At the conclusion of TBS, Brian went to NAS Pensacola, Florida for flight school in the jet pipeline.

In a turn of fate, Brian was killed in an A-6A accident flying out of MCAS Cherry Point, NC. The following news article describes the accident:

From the Idaho State Journal, 29 Aug 1969: “Cherry Point, NC. (AP) – An Idaho Falls man has been killed in the crash of an A6A Intruder jet near Kinston, 40 miles west of Cherry Point. The Marine air station at Cherry Point said he was 1stLt Robert B. Casey. The crash occurred Wednesday, but identification was not released until late Thursday. Casey was the pilot. The copilot, 1stLt Russell W. Albright, Delmar, NY was reported in satisfactory condition today with a broken leg and other injuries.”

From Report on A6-Intruder accidents: “26 August 1969: Student pilot was performing SPLIT “S” from 20,000 feet. At a point when it was apparent the aircraft would not safely pull out, instructor pilot ejected and immediately thereafter student pilot ejected. Student pilot ejected too low. Chute did not fully deploy and he suffered fatal injuries. Instructor suffered serious injuries.”

Brian was interred at the Long Island National Cemetery, Farmingdale, New York. Long Island National Cemetery was chosen because it is close to Brian’s greater family roots of Westerly, RI and Saratoga Springs, NY.

USMC Resume:
The Basic School Class 1-68 Alpha Company, 1st Platoon, Jun-Nov 1967
Pensacola FL Flight School – Jet pipeline
MCAS Cherry Point – A-6 Squadron

Personal Reflections about Brian Casey:

A recollection from Mike Barretti: “Dave [Baker] and Brian [Casey] were in my wedding party on November 26, 1967. Both of them, along with four other of my TBS “friends” Shanghaied me the night before the wedding, and I recall it was Dave and Ken Bruner who were the ring leaders. Dave became a favorite of my sister in law at the wedding, and they danced most of the night. However, Dave had a serious girlfriend at the time, whose name, regrettably, I don’t recall, because they were talking marriage after Dave finished flight training. I lost touch with both guys shortly after, as we went our separate ways, but heard about Brian’s death. Ironically, I didn’t know about Dave’s passing until I saw it in the info circulated for the reunion. Really sad about both of them.”

25 June 1946 – 26 June 2005
Arlington National Cemetery, VA 22211

Merritt Chafey passed away on 26 June 2005, at the age of 59, of heart disease in Carlsbad, CA.

Merritt Neville Chafey IV (Chip) was born 25 June 1946 in Prescott, AZ to Merritt Neville Chafey III and Ora Lee Bray. Chip was an only child. Chip’s father was the Prescott, AZ Chief of Police and his mother was a teacher. In the 1960 timeframe, the family relocated to Scottsdale, AZ where Chip’s father took the position of Chief of Police of Scottsdale, AZ. In Scottsdale, Chip attended Coronado High School.

Chip attended both the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in Lexington, VA and Arizona State University (ASU), Tempe, AZ – VMI for freshman year and ASU for three years. He was in the Sigma NU fraternity at ASU. He was also in the ASU NROTC program with a Marine Corps option and attended the 6-week Platoon Leaders Class (PLC) Bulldog Program between his Junior and Senior years, at MCB Quantico, VA. Chip had a double major and received a BA in English and History.

Upon graduation from ASU, Chip accepted a regular commission in the USMC and reported to USMC Officers Basic School Class 1-68 Alpha Company 1st Platoon, in June 1967.

Member of the Force Recon Association

USMC Resume:
PEBD 14 Dec 1965
The Basic School Class 1-68 Alpha Company, 1st Platoon, Jun-Nov 1967
Vietnam: Force Recon
Medical Retirement 1982, Captain

4 July 1941 – 19 June 1982
Interred Parklawn Cemetery in Rockville, MD 29902

Owen Chambers passed away on 19 June 1982, at the age of 41, of medical complications in Beaufort SC. He is interred Parklawn Cemetery in Rockville, MD

Owen Stirling Chambers was born on 4 July 1941 in Pensacola, FL to Owen Archibald Chambers and Dorothy Hand. Owen’s father, a 40 year career retired USMC Colonel, was in Flight School at the time of birth. Owen has one younger brother, William Elliot Chambers II (USAF Intelligence field). As a USMC “brat”, he moved many times with his family.  Among the places were Hawaii; Cherry Point, NC; Pendleton, Newport, RI for a Naval War College stint; and Naples where his father was assigned to NATO for three years. Owen went to several elementary and junior highs, and two high schools: Fallbrook High outside Camp Pendleton in 1958 where he played basketball and was on the Swim team & Rifle Team, and Forrest Sherman High School in Naples. In Naples, he ran track, played on the varsity basketball team, and played flag football (no tackle available). He attended the University of Maryland in Munich, Germany. After UM, he attended Bullis Prep in the DC area where he was on the swim team.

Owen attended the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in Lexington, VA earning a BS in Electrical Engineering in 1965. While at VMI, Owen took part in many activities: track, intramural swimming, football, volleyball, IEEE, Vice Chairman, yearbook committee, hop & floor committee, electrician, armed forces club, Presidential Honor Guard.  During the summers, he attended both the Jr and Sr Platoon Leader Classes at Quantico, VA.  Following graduation, he accepted a regular commission as a second lieutenant in the USMC on 9 June 1965. With delayed entry to active duty, Owen continued his education as a graduate student at Clemson University in Clemson, SC earning a MSEE in June 1967. Owen Chambers and Jean Sanders married in June 1966 – a TBS wife. They had two children, daughter Jeanette Alayne in 1970 and son Owen S. Chambers Jr in 1975.

Owen reported to USMC Officers Basic School (TBS) June 1967. Following TBS and prior to Vietnam, Owen attended the Basic Communication Officers course at Quantico (classmates were Nunziato, Ames, Chaffey). He served in Dong Ha, Republic of Vietnam, from 5 May 1968 to 6 June 1969 where he managed and deployed electric sensor/surveillance equipment for the “McNamara’s Wall” along the DMZ. Owen was released from active duty at Camp Pendleton on 13 June 1970. He joined a USMC Reserve unit in Fredericksburg, VA, attaining the rank of Major.

As a civilian, he worked for the Federal Power Commission for one year, and was an Electrical Engineer at MERADCOM (Countermine/Counter Intrusion Department) from 1971-1974. He worked at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission as a Reactor Security Specialist with the Office of Inspection and Enforcement from 1974-1982. His personal hobbies and interests included psychology, golf, running, and music. He supported the USMC marathon, working on the wiring systems for the Air Control Squadron 23 Communications Electronics Office in Quantico, VA. Owen Chambers passed away on 19 June 1982, at the age of 41 in Beaufort, SC of medical complications. He is Interred Parklawn Cemetery in Rockville, MD

USMC Resume:
PEBD: 29 Jun 1961
PLC Jr and Sr:
Regular Commission 2nd Lt: 09 Jun 1965
TBS Class 1-68 Alpha company, 1st Platoon June – Nov 1967
Data Processing Installation, MCDEC Quantico VA: Nov 67 – Feb 68
Basic Communication Officers course, MCDEC Quantico VA: Feb68 – Apr 1968
Vietnam: 5 May 1968 – 6 Jun 1969
Dong Ha, Republic of Vietnam; Managed and deployed electric sensor/surveillance equipment for the “McNamara’s Wall” along the DMZ.
Post-Vietnam: MCB Camp Pendleton H&S Co, H&S Bn 5th ASR, (-) FMF  June 1969 – 13 June 1970
Released from active duty: Camp Pendleton 13 June 1970
USMCR unit: Fredericks, VA

13 February 1945 – 13 June 1991
Santa Fe National Cemetery, NM 87501

Randy Champe was born 13 February 1945 in Charleston, West Virginia. His love of adventure was well suited to the family’s move to Albuquerque, New Mexico in his early years. With the loving guidance of his father, Charlie Champe, Randy earned his Eagle Scout. He graduated from the University of New Mexico, 1967. He was in the NROTC with a Marine Corps option. During his seven years as an officer in the United States Marine Corps, he was awarded the nation’s third highest combat award, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star with the combat V and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry among other distinctions while serving as a Tank Commander and as a Force Recon Marine.

In 1973, Randy joined the Los Angeles Police Department. As his wife, Sue’s, grandmother said, “Randy went from the front lines of the country to the front lines of the country.” Serving and protecting with distinction, he worked first the streets and then the skies of L.A. as an observer in the Air Support Division. From 1983-1986, Randy was a policeman on the Houston Police Department. Upon his return to Los Angeles, he was immediately accepted back into Air Support Division.

Randy was killed in the line of duty, 13 June 1991, at the age of 46, when the helicopter crashed due to equipment failure that he and pilot Gary Howe were flying in over South Central Los Angeles. In attempting an emergency landing, through their dedication and expertise, they were able to avoid the primary emergency landing zone, a school yard full of children on recess. They also avoided the secondary zone, a roadway with a school bus, child and adult in the path, and put the ship down in a vacant lot with abandoned cars on it. Both perished upon impact. Randy loved helping his fellow officers by being their “eyes in the sky.”

Posthumously, Randy was awarded LAPD’s highest honor, the Medal of Valor. Randy was also awarded LAPD’s Purple Heart and in 2014, two signs were unveiled with Randy’s and Gary’s names, and erected at the crash site.

USMC Resume:
The Basic School Class 1-68 Alpha Company, 1st Platoon, Jun-Nov 1967
Vietnam: Three tours (C/1st Tanks Company; two tours with 1st Force Recon)

5 October 1941 – 18 August 1991
Last known address: Knoxville, IA 50138

Robert E. Chiesa was born 5 Oct 1941 in Des Moines, IA  to Leon Victor Chiesa and Vivian Margaret Shook. His father served with the 94th Naval Construction Battalion in Hawaii and Guam from 1943 to 1945. Bob was the oldest of three children. He had one brother and one sister.

Bob enlisted in the USMC 22 June 1960 at 19 years old. At one time he served with a Marine detachment on a Navy ship. He attended the University of Oklahoma and gained his commission through the NESEP program.  He graduated on 4 June 1967 and was commissioned as a 2nd LT USMC with a regular commission 7 June 1967. He was a member of TBS Class 1-68 Alpha Company 1st Platoon. He then went to Flight School- Helicopter Pipeline in Pensacola, FL. He attended CH-53 training at Marine Corps Air Facility (MCAF) Tustin, CA. He then received orders for Vietnam, where he flew CH-53s out of Marble Mountain. In 1971 he was assigned to NAS Imperial Beach, CA and served as an exchange pilot with a Navy helicopter squadron. While in Southern CA, he purchased and raced a Formula V race car.  Having medical issues he was grounded and medically discharged from the USMC on 1 May 1972. He returned to Iowa where he lived for many years. He passed away 18 Aug 1991 in Knoxville, IA at the age of 49.

USMC Resume:
The Basic School Class 1-68 Alpha Company, 1st Platoon, Jun-Nov 1967
Flight School- Helicopter Pipeline in Pensacola, FL.
CH-53 training at Marine Corps Air Facility (MCAF) Tustin, CA.
Vietnam: CH-53s out of Marble Mountain.
An exchange pilot with a Navy helicopter squadron, NAS Imperial Beach, CA: 1971