SAN DIEGO  - Sgt. Alec Langen, 23, of Chandler died this week with four other Marines when their CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter went down in the mountains outside San Diego during a storm.

The decorated Marines were assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and were based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego.

“We have been confronted with a tragedy that is every service family’s worst fear,” Lt. Col. Nicholas J. Harvey, commanding officer of the squadron, said.

“The Flying Tigers family stands strong and includes the friends and community who have supported our squadron during this challenging time. We will get through this together.”

The youngest was Lance Cpl. Donovan Davis, 21, of Olathe, Kan., who was promoted to the rank of lance corporal on New Year’s Day. The oldest was Capt. Miguel Nava, 28, of Traverse City, Mich.

Davis and Langen were crew chiefs. The rest were CH-53E pilots.

“We will miss him dearly,” his mother Caryn Langen told KNSD-TV of San Diego.

The other pilots on board were Capt. Jack Casey, 26, of Dover, N.H., and Capt. Benjamin Moulton, 27, of Emmett, Idaho.

Langen enlisted in the Marine Corps on Sept. 14, 2017, and was promoted to sergeant on Oct. 1, 2022.

His decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, according to the Marine Corps.

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