Mourners Honor Marines Lost in Crash

EL TORO —  More than 400 mourners attended a service at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station for four Marines presumed dead after their CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter crashed at sea earlier this month.

The victims were Lance Cpl. Rodolfo Guajardo Jr. of Beach Park, Ill., Maj. Dennis A. Dogs, 34, the pilot, of Mission Viejo, Capt. Paul D. Barnes, 27, of Lawrenceburg, Ky., and Cpl. Michael J. Tsoris, 21, of Racine, Wis.

The Navy has released no information about its ongoing investigation of the accident.

The helicopter crashed into the ocean six miles off north San Diego County moments after its 9:30 p.m. takeoff from the ship Juneau, investigators said.

Searchers recovered some debris and a portion of the fuselage from the helicopter, a 45-foot, double-engine aircraft that is among the oldest in the U.S. military.

Lt. Col. Pat O’Donogue, who was the Marines’ squadron commander, said the squadron took a day off after the crash to deal with the loss of their four co-workers.

O’Donogue said he considered Dogs “very competent . . . a true professional Marine. He was a pilot who was very capable and had flown before in similar circumstances.”

Navy Chaplain Tom Atkins said at the service that he was aware of the additional hardship the families faced being unable to bury their loved ones. “Because there are no bodies . . . it will be tough for them to have closure. Hopefully, one day, the bodies will be discovered,” he said.