Brothers (& Sisters) Killed in Action in USMC Helicopters or while assigned to USMC Helicopter or Tiltrotor Squadrons
19920809HMLA-367 TRAINING LOSS PREPARATION FOR COMBAT
Download PDFIncident Date 19920809 HMLA-367 AH-1W -BuNo unknown- - Night Training Mission on Kuwait Border
Jones, David Capt Co-Pilot HMLA-367 1992-08-09
Beving, John A. Capt Pilot HMLA-367 1992-08-09
The Washington Post
Beving, John A. .John A. Beving, 28, a captain in the Marine Corps, died Aug. 9 when the helicopter he was piloting crashed near the Kuwaiti-Iraqi border during U.S.-Kuwaiti military exercises, a Marine Corps spokesman said. Capt. Beving, who lived in Silver Spring, was born in Honolulu and moved to Silver Spring as a child. He graduated in 1982 from Paint Branch High School, where he played in the band and on the baseball team. In 1986, he graduated from the Merchant Marine Academy and then joined the Marine Corps. He completed flight training at Pensacola, Fla., in 1988. He was assigned to the Persian Gulf in 1990 and 1991 and participated in Operation Desert Storm as a helicopter pilot. He returned to that area this summer. He was a member of Silver Spring Christian Reformed Church. Survivors include his parents, retired Navy Capt. Duane U. Beving and Adriana Beving of Silver Spring; two sisters, Susan Strikwerda of Holland, Mich., and Jean Van Dyke of Silver Spring; and two grandmothers, Evelyn Beving of Ackley, Iowa, and Sadie DeWaard of Kanawha, Iowa.
Source: The Washington Post, Washington, DC, Aug. 13, 1992
Personal Commentary
Beving and Jones died in an AH-1W along the Kuwaiti border on 9 Aug, 1992. They were flying a night NVG training mission and impacted the ground. There were no other aircraft involved in the accident.
Submitted by: Mike Binney, Squadron Mate, 20100106Personal Commentary
Psycho Dwarf was in my fire team at The Basic School, United States Marine Corps, where 2nd Lieutenants get initial training before launching to Military Occupational Specialties.
John rarely drank alcohol, except limited amounts and on special occasions, always setting the example.
John never used profanity, despite his affiliation with Merchant Marine.
He could precisely drive a car in blinding rain, without windshield wipers, and not run off of narrow, curving roads.
He tried to explain his techniques to me as I rode with him.
Mr. Safety, John was.
Psycho Dwarf, we called him that for the unusual music he liked to listen to, and funny dances he did to the music, only off duty or on liberty, of course.
During his time off, John studied to be a better Marine Officer, better pilot, was singing at a local church, or participating in charity activities.
I struggled to follow his lead in being a better United States Marine, leader, person and human being.
Training accident?
I saw the picture of his Cobra wreckage in The Camp Pendleton Scout.
What kind of accident leaves a gaping hole in the aircraft?
I believe his Cobra was shot down.
John was too skillful, even under radically adverse conditions to crash as the word picture painted by the article.
The picture of the wreckage gave away the truth.
His untimely death put me in a state of anger, seething hate & disdain for Saddam Hussein, for some years.
I dreamed of schemes to go take Saddam out.
I had to give these feelings of hate to my Lord & Savior, Christ Jesus, in prayer, daily.
Often, I questioned The Good Lord, Why John instead of me?
John was a far better person than I could ever be.
After much anguish, counseling & therapy of different kinds, especially writing to John a letter, I have been able to
say,Goodbye to our beloved Psycho Dwarf, and Thank God for letting me get to spend some time
here on Earth with...
John A. Beving, Brother-In-Arms, Friend, Officer & Cobra Pilot, United States Marine Corps.
I really miss John.
I hope to meet him again in the hereafter.
I was a Huey pilot in HMLA 369 and a squadron mate of Johns. He was a wonderful man; a great friend; and a great aviator and Marine. Most importantly, he was a great Brother in Christ. John was a devout Christian. I always took that to mean that he obeyed Gods Laws and was loyal to his fiance. He was a wonderful man. I piloted the Huey that recovered his body - the day following the crash. Unfortunately, the evidence was clear, as I piloted the Huey at the same time of day (night) as his crash. It is clear to me that he was conducting an NVG Nav route in the Udari range, and turned into a Full Moon.... I can only surmise that the brightness of the moon washed out his goggles, and he did not perceive the rising terrain and drove his Cobra into the ground at great speed. I have no way of knowing whether he or Jonesy were at the controls at the time. Beavs example was a major factor in my salvation and accepting Jesus Christ as my savior. I will never forget him. God Bless.
Submitted by: James J Justice, 20200826