TRAVERSE CITY – The death of U.S. Marine Capt. Miguel Nava, who went down with four other Marines when their helicopter crashed Tuesday in Pine Valley, Calif., is prompting an outpouring of help for his family.
George Saker, who is from southeastern Michigan and was in Nava’s class at the U.S. Naval Academy, confirmed a campaign in memory of Nava through the Travis Manion Foundation.
Nava, 28, was born in Traverse City, Saker said, and was often with his family and grandparents in Long Lake, even after moving to Comstock Park, where he attended high school and graduated in 2013.
“Miguel was the kindest soul you’d ever meet,” are the words written in Nava’s memory on the Travis Manion Foundation page. “His warmth, positive energy, and compassion will be missed by all who were grateful to know him.”
The foundation is raising $200,000 for the family. Saker and the foundation said 100% of these donations will go to Nava’s wife and 4-month-old son.
Nava was one of three pilots and two crew chiefs aboard the CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter that crashed in the mountains outside San Diego. Traveling from Creech Air Force Base in Nevada to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California, they were assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16 of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.
“We have been confronted with a tragedy that is every service family’s worst fear,” said Lt. Col. Nicholas Harvey, commanding officer of Squadron 361.
Nava was a CH-53E helicopter pilot and the longest tenured of the five on board. He was commissioned in May 2017 and promoted to captain in November 2021. Capt. Benjamin Moulton, 27, of Emmett, Idaho, and Capt. Jack Casey, 26, of Dover, N.H., also were CH-53E helicopter pilots. Lance Cpl. Donovan Davis, 21, of Olathe, Kan., and Sgt. Alec Langen, 23, of Chandler, Ariz. were CH-53E helicopter crew chiefs.
The helicopter was found Wednesday morning, according to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.
Marine Corps leaders, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and President Joe Biden expressed their condolences. “My prayers are with these brave Marines and their families, loved ones and teammates,” Austin said Thursday. “As the Marine Corps investigates this deadly crash, it is yet another reminder that across our nation and the world our selfless service members put their lives on the line every day to keep our country safe.”
Citing hazardous terrain and weather at the crash site, Col. James C. Ford, operations officer with 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, said the ground recovery efforts will take place over coming weeks as an investigation into the crash is conducted.
The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, which is headquartered at the Miramar base, has been coordinating search and rescue efforts with federal, state and local agencies, such as the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and the Civil Air Patrol.
The last known contact with the helicopter was at about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, when waves of downpours and snow were hitting the region, according to a representative of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
That area in the Cuyamaca Mountains – at an elevation of about 3,700 feet – saw as much 8 inches of accumulating snow within hours Tuesday night and early Wednesday. More snow fell Wednesday night, forecasters said.
The area includes San Diego County’s second highest mountain, Cuyamaca Peak, at 6,512 feet, and is also near the Cleveland National Forest, which covers 720 square miles with much of it steep and rocky with limited trails.