Iowa native dies in Afghanistan

CEDAR RAPIDS - An Iowa native was among six Marines who died Thursday after their CH-53D helicopter crashed in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province.

Master Sgt. Travis Riddick, 40, grew up in Iowa and joined the Marines after graduating from Centerville High School in 1990, his father, John Riddick of Mount Pleasant, said Friday.

Riddick, 62, said his son had served three tours in Iraq. He was nearing the end of his second, and last, tour in Afghanistan.

Riddick said his son had just been promoted by the Marines on Jan. 1. He said Travis Riddick served with the Marine One presidential helicopter squadron, and flew for Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

Travis Riddick was based with his family in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, as were the other five Marines who died Friday, according to U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, D-Hawaii, a member of the House Armed Services Committee. The military had not officially confirmed the identities of those killed as of last night.

John Riddick said he knew few details of the helicopter crash. He said two Marines had visited his and wife Barbara's home with the news of Travis' death.

John Riddick said Travis came from a strong military background: Travis' grandfather, father, uncle and cousins were Marines, and his twin brother, Troy, recently retired after serving 21 years in the Navy.

Travis “had come a long way,” John Riddick said.“He was a Marine. He loved what he'd done. He was doing fine and everything was OK.”

Travis Riddick is survived by his wife, Jennifer, and six children: Victoria Riddick and Levi Riddick and Charles Lovelace, Matt Lovelace, James Lovelace and Zachary Lovelace.

Arrangements are pending, John Riddick said, adding that his son's body will next be flown to Dover, Del.

The Vietnam War-era CH-53D that crashed in Afghanistan on Thursday is the same model as a helicopter that crashed and killed a Marine in a bay off Hawaii on March 29. An investigation later revealed mechanical failure caused that accident.

Thursday's crash was the deadliest in Afghanistan since August, when 30 American troops died after a Chinook helicopter was apparently shot down in Wardak province in the center of the country. Among those who died in that crash was another Iowa native, Navy SEAL Petty Officer Jon T. Tumilson of Rockford.

The cause of the latest crash is still being investigated, but a statement issued by the NATO international military coalition said there was no enemy activity in the area when it happened.

German Brig. Gen. Carsten Jacobson, a spokesman for the NATO coalition in Kabul, said officials were looking at a “technical fault” as the possible culprit.

“The helicopter is one of the safest forms of transport,” Jacobson said. He said not only does it protect troops the danger of roadside bombs on the ground, but it is well-tested, well-proven way to travel.

All CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopters still used operationally are stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe Bay. The military plans to replace them with the MV-22 Osprey.

---- The Associated Press contributed to this report.