Two Marine helicopter pilots from Camp Pendleton killed in Afghanistan

Two Marine pilots from Camp Pendleton have been killed in the crash of their Cobra attack helicopter in Afghanistan, the Pentagon announced Monday.

Lt. Col. Mario D. Carazo, 41, of Springfield, Ohio, and Maj. James M. Weis, 37, of Toms River, N.J., were killed Thursday while on a combat mission in Helmand province. The circumstances of the crash are under investigation.

Carazo and Weis were assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing is headquartered at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego; Cobra squadrons are based at Camp Pendleton.

Carazo had served two tours in Iraq, Weis had served one tour there.

-- Tony Perry in San Diego

Photo: Cobra helicopters. Credit: Department of Defense

Comments

[Aaron]

Rest in peace Marines. Thank you for your service to Country.

[Gigi Carazo-Tew]

Lt Colonel Mario Carazo, did not live or grow up in Springfield, OH. He was born in Gardena, CA and grew up in Cerritos, CA. He is a California native.

I'm sure you can figure out how i know this.

[M]

I have a family member stationed at Leatherneck who served with these 2 fine Marines. He is devastated. Our thoughts & prayers are with these men & their families...Our country should be gratefull to all of the Marines who "stand on the wall, so we can sleep at night".....God bless them all !!!

[Jenae Welch]

Thank you to our brave heroes who gave their lives serving this country and defending our freedom. Lt. Col. Carazo, and Maj. Weis you will you NEVER be forgotten. To their family and loved ones, you will be in our thoughts and prayers. Thank you.

[John]

Rest in peace, Marines. God bless you and your families.

[fred dobbs]

Rest in peace, young heros,you shall be remembered always....SEMPER FI.

[Fallbrook Resident]

Every day now, just like when I was in my teens I wake to very sad news about the war. Back then it was on the TV before school about the VIetnam War. Now its the Afghanistan War.
My thoughts and prayers go out to all that are or will be touched by these wars.

[Kevin]

@ Col John Doe (RET)

Defending freedom isn't just our freedom. It's the concept of freedom. And no, "attack helicopter" and "defending freedom" are by NO means mutually exclusive. Just because not everyone is always comfortable turning a blind eye to the oppression and tyranny that some of the foreign governments put onto people, doesn't mean you should to.

Freedom is NOT limited to the US. Freedom is a natural born right, born to all people of the world. It is to bad that not everyone is lucky enough to be born in the US, where we are allowed to exercise our freedoms more that anywhere else in the world.

I liken it to the watching a bully on a playground. Are you the person who stands there and watches the kid get bullied because "It's not your fight" - or are you, like these brave Marines, the kind of person to go and stand up to that bully and help the other kid, even if it means you can get hurt yourself?

[Mark Roles]

These two Maol rines were two of the finest and most caring officers I ever served with. I new LtCol Carazo with him as one of his Marines. The world has truely lost two great oustanding Marine officers. My condolences to there families. Semper Fi. And may god bless there families in their time of morning!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[B. Schaffer]

I served with James Weis briefly in the vicinity of Camp Fallujah and Karmah, Iraq early 2006. He was a great officer - professional, personable, and industrious. He had a knack of remaining upbeat, focused, and motivated despite difficult situations. I have good memories of spending time with him and his positive attitude. When veterans recall fondly the camaraderie experienced during war, it is because of people like James.