Fallen Marine Honored Ahead of Funeral Procession

An MCAS Miramar-based U.S. Marine, one of four servicemembers killed in a helicopter crash during training in El Centro, California, will receive full military honors Tuesday during a memorial ceremony.Gunnery Sgt. Derik R. Holley, 33, was killed on April 3 along with three other Marines: Lance Cpl. Taylor J. Conrad, 1st Lt. Samuel D. Phillips and Capt. Samuel A. Schultz. Man Killed in 40-Foot Fall After Crash With Deer on SR-125 Holley and his crewmates were aboard the CH-53E Super Stallion when it went down for unknown reasons. The Marines were training to land in unimproved terrain, according to U.S. Marine Corps officials.The sergeant will receive military honors in a ceremony at Miramar National Ceremony before departing for a private service at Clairemont Mortuary. San Diegan Captures Incredible Encounter with Pod of Orcas The procession between the two locations will depart at about 10 a.m. and will include a flyover, according to the group Honoring Our Fallen.The group asks those who wish to pay their respects to the fallen hero to line the procession route between the two locations with American flags before 10 a.m. Car-Swallowing Hole Opens When Driver Ignores Crews: ECPD The procession will travel westbound on Nobel Drive then southbound on Genesee Avenue before turning left on Balboa Avenue then left on Mount Abernathy Avenue. A military flyover will join the procession, Honoring Our Fallen said.Holley joined the Marine Corps in 2003. He deployed to Iraq twice and once to Japan. He was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal among others. Holley was originally from Dayton, Ohio, but met wife in San Diego and started a family here. His body arrived at Lindbergh Field Saturday. On April 3, a CH-53E Super Stallion from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at MCAS Miramar crashed just outside of El Centro near the U.S.-Mexico border on April 3, USMC officials said.The helicopter had left Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms to conduct routine training of aircraft landings in unimproved zones.Photo Credit: USMC This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.
Source: NBC San Diego