The U.S. Marine Corps has identified the four Marines who were killed in an MV-22B Osprey crash in northern Norway on Friday evening.
In a statement provided to American Military News, the service identified the four Marines as Capt. Matthew J. Tomkiewicz, 27, of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Capt. Ross A. Reynolds, 27, of Leominster, Massachusetts; Gunnery Sgt. James W. Speedy, 30, of Cambridge, Ohio and Cpl. Jacob M. Moore, 24, of Catlettsburg, Kentucky. All four Marines were assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261.
The Osprey went down on Friday in an area south of Bodo, while participating in Exercise Cold Response 2022, an annual exercise involving 30,000 troops from more than 27 North American and European nations.
The exact cause of the crash is unknown and is currently under investigation. Norwegian authorities led the recovery effort, with the assistance of the Marine Corps.
The Norwegian Armed Forces first revealed the four Marines on board were killed on Saturday. Their identification on Sunday came after the Marine Corps notified family members of the deceased. Other NATO allied nations offered their support during and after the incident, including Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
“The pilots and crew were committed to accomplishing their mission and
serving a cause greater than themselves,” Maj. Gen. Michael Cederholm, the commanding general of 2d Marine Aircraft Wing, wrote in a letter to his Marines and their families.
Tomkiewicz served as an Osprey pilot with Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261, Marine Aircraft Group 26, 2d Marine Aircraft Wing, which is stationed on Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina. His decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.
Reynolds served as an Osprey pilot with Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261, Marine Aircraft Group 26, 2d Marine Aircraft Wing. His decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and multiple certificates and letters of appreciation.
Speedy served as an administrative specialist with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261, Marine Aircraft Group 26, 2d Marine Aircraft Wing. His decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two gold stars, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Marine Corps Drill Instructor Ribbon, and multiple certificates and letters of appreciation.
Moore served as an MV-22B Osprey crew chief with Marine Medium
Tiltrotor Squadron 261, Marine Aircraft Group 26, 2d Marine Aircraft Wing. His decorations include the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
All four Marines have been recovered from the crash site and are on their way back to the U.S.
“We will continue to execute the mission while keeping these Marines and
their service on the forefront of our minds. We will never allow these
Marines’ sacrifice to go unnoticed or unappreciated,” Cederholm said. “Keep these Marines and their loved ones in your thoughts and prayers.”
