Marine pilot from Massachusetts killed in training accident in Africa

[thedrifter]

Marine pilot from Massachusetts killed in training accident in Africa


By Greg Sukiennik
ASSOCIATED PRESS
4:36 a.m., June 24, 2003

BOSTON – Capt. Seth R. Michaud didn't back down from risk. He picked the Marine Corps over the Navy because he thought the Corps would provide more challenges.

Michaud, a 27-year-old helicopter pilot, died Sunday in an explosion that U.S. officials said was caused by bombs accidentally dropped from a B-52 bomber that landed near forces training in Djibouti, in the Horn of Africa.

Michaud, a native of Hudson, was a 1998 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and had recently been promoted to helicopter aircraft commander, his father, Francis P. Michaud, said Monday.

"The Marines were more challenging, and he thought it was a smaller, closer-knit group, a family," Francis Michaud said from his Hudson home, about 30 miles west of Boston. "That's what he wanted."

Francis Michaud said his son was deployed to Djibouti in April as part of a counterterrorism operation. "I think his biggest problem with going to Djibouti was leaving his family, but he felt it was part of his duty," he said.

Eight U.S. service members were wounded in the accident, and seven were transported to a hospital in Djibouti for treatment of more severe injuries. They were in stable condition Monday and were being transported to Landstuhl Army Medical Center in Germany.

"That others were injured is terrible in and of itself. Unfortunately Seth was one that didn't make it. We've struggled with that," Francis Michaud said of the incident. "It's bad enough when it's enemy fire. When it's friendly fire you just wonder why – why couldn't this have been avoided."

As many as nine misdirected bombs from the B-52 bomber fell near two CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters that were parked adjacent to the range where the exercise was taking place, said Capt. Will Klumpp.

Around 50 troops were taking part in the two-day exercise at Godoria Bombing Range, along the northern coast of Djibouti, Klumpp said. The soldiers are training to eradicate terrorist activity in Kenya, Yemen, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan and Somalia.

Michaud is survived by his wife, Karen Marie Michaud, and an 18-month-old son, Ian.



Associated Press Writer Andrew England in Nairobi, Kenya, contributed to this report

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/military/20030624-0436-hornofafrica-marines.html


Sempers,

Roger
:marine:

Rest in Peace

[thedrifter]

Dad Of Dead Marine Pilot Recalls Son
Associated Press
June 24, 2003


BOSTON - The father of a Marine pilot killed in an apparent training accident in eastern Africa said Monday his son picked the Marine Corps over the Navy because he believed it would be more challenging.

Capt. Seth R. Michaud, 27, died Sunday in an explosion that may have been caused by a bomb dropped from a B-52 plane that landed near forces training in Djibouti, in the Horn of Africa.

Michaud was a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and had recently been promoted to helicopter aircraft commander, said his father, Francis P. Michaud.

"The Marines were more challenging, and he thought it was a smaller, closer-knit group, a family," Francis Michaud said from his home in Hudson, about 30 miles west of Boston. "That's what he wanted."

Francis Michaud said his son was deployed to Djibouti in April as part of a counterterrorism operation. He said Michaud was an excellent helicopter pilot who loved flying, as well as a devoted husband and father.

"I think his biggest problem with going to Djibouti was leaving his family, but he felt it was part of his duty," his father said.

Michaud leaves behind a wife, Karen Marie Michaud, and an 18-month-old son, Ian.

U.S. Central Command said Michaud's was the first death since the Marine task force started deploying from Camp Lejeune in November.

Eight U.S. service members were wounded in the apparent accident, and seven were transported to a hospital in Djibouti for treatment of more severe injuries. They were in stable condition Monday and were being transported to Landstuhl Army Medical Center in Germany.

The explosion also destroyed two Marine transport helicopters.

Sempers,

Roger
:marine: