Brothers (& Sisters) Killed in Action in USMC Helicopters or while assigned to USMC Helicopter or Tiltrotor Squadrons
20180221HMLA-267 TRAINING LOSS PREPARATION FOR COMBAT
Download PDFIncident Date 20180221 HMLA-267 UH-1Y - BuNo unknown - - Ground Mishap at Camp Pendleton
Mazzuchelli, James A. LT (USN) FltSurgeon HMLA-267 MAG-39/3rdMAW/MCAS CamPen 2018-02-21
Military.com
Marines Identify Flight Surgeon Who Died After Struck by Rotor Blade
Officials have identified a Navy officer who succumbed to his injuries after being struck by a spinning helicopter blade Feb. 21.
Navy Lt. James A. Mazzuchelli, 32, died Saturday after he was critically injured by the tail rotor of a UH-1Y Venom, officials with 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing said in a statement.
Mazzuchelli was a flight surgeon assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 out of Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, California, where the tragic mishap occurred. The squadron flies UH-1Y Venoms and AH-1Z Cobras.
According to officials, Mazzuchelli was from Orange Park, Florida and received his commission in the Navy in June 2010. He had previously deployed with the squadron to Japan in 2016 as part of the Marines' Unit Deployment Program, officials said.
No additional details were available about how the incident happened or the nature of Mazzuchelli's injuries. He was struck by the rotor around 6p.m. the evening of Feb. 21, and died at Scripps La Jolla Medical Facility just before 6a.m. Saturday.
An investigation into the mishap is ongoing.
"Lt. James Mazzuchelli was an incredibly talented physician and Sailor," Col. Matthew Mowery, commanding officer of MAG-39, said in a statement. "His contagious enthusiasm, motivation, and love for the Marines and Sailors of HMLA-267 and MAG-39 has been evident in the outpouring of grief at his loss and the support being shown to his family and close friends."
Mowery said Mazzuchelli's contribution to the Marine Corps would be "sorely missed."
"His willingness to join the Navy and elect to serve faithfully with the Marines should give a sense of pride to all of us who serve our country that we are surrounded by heroes every day," he said."
Maj. Gen. Mark Wise, commanding general of 3rd MAW, said in a brief statement that his heart went out to Mazzuchelli's family and the Corps would continue to support them.
Submitted by: Alan H Barbour, Research Historian, USMC Combat Helicopter/Tiltrotor Association, 20180226
News Article
Navy Officer killed in helicopter accident identified
SAN DIEGO -- A 32-year-old Navy Officer and flight surgeon who died after
being struck by a spinning helicopter blade at Camp Pendleton was identified
Sunday. Lt. James A. Mazzuchelli was a flight surgeon assigned to Marine
Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267, Marine Aircraft Group 39, according to
a statement issued by military officials. "My heart goes out to our Sailor
and his family as we support them through this difficult time," Maj. Gen.
Mark Wise said. Mazzuchelli was a native of Orange Park, Florida and was
commissioned in the Navy in June 2010. He was deployed to Japan in 2016.
"Lt. James Mazzuchelli was an incredibly talented physician and sailor,"
said Col. Matthew Mowery, commander of MAG-39. "His contagious enthusiasm,
motivation and love for the Marines and sailors of HMLA-267 and MAG- 39 has
been evident in the outpouring of grief at his loss and the support being
shown to his family and close friends. "His willingness to join the Navy and
elect to serve faithfully with the Marines should give a sense of pride to
all of us who serve our country that we are surrounded by heroes every day.
James and his contribution to our Corps will be sorely missed," Mowery
continued. The accident occurred around 6 p.m. Wednesday. The sailor was
struck by a spinning UH-1Y "Venom" tail rotor blade, according to 3rd Marine
Aircraft Wing public affairs. Paramedics took Mazzuchelli to Scripps
Memorial Hospital La Jolla, where he was pronounced dead at about 5:45 a.m.
Saturday -- a little more than two days after the incident. The incident
remains under investigation.
Submitted by: Alan H Barbour, Research Historian, USMC Combat Helicopter/Tiltrotor , 20180226
Related Information
Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton Residents Graduate
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Yasmine T. Muhammad
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (NNS) -- Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton (NHCP) held a graduation ceremony for its Residents and Interns June 26 in the hospital's Medal of Honor Mall.
Nine Family Medicine residents, four Dental residents, two Sports Medicine fellows, one Pharmacy resident and 12 Family Medicine interns graduated during the ceremony.
As one of only five naval hospitals with a training program for family medicine doctors, NHCP takes in several residents per year to train them to give Marines, Sailors and their families the best care possible.
Rear Adm. Kenneth J. Iverson, deputy chief at Medical Operations Bureau of Medicine and Surgery and prior NHCP commanding officer, was the ceremony guest speaker. During his commencement speech, Iverson mentioned the hardships faced and the hardships yet to come. In closing he thanked each graduate for their hard work and wished them the best as they move further in their careers.
"You all worked hard, long hours and it is much appreciated, you are the engine that keeps this hospital going," said Iverson. "As you embark on this next phase in your career I wish you fair winds, the greatest success and following seas."
Before the presentation of the graduates, directors from all four programs congratulated their graduates and offered words of encouragement.
All new Navy doctors arriving at NHCP participate in a one-year internship, where upon completion they either continue training for two more years as a resident or go out into the fleet as a general medicine officer.
Lt. James Mazzuchelli, a graduating intern, is on his way to the Naval Aeronautical Medical Institute in Pensacola, Florida, where he will train to become a flight surgeon. Mazzuchelli said that while the internship is difficult, everyone becomes very close and serves as a great support system making his departure bittersweet.
"If I had to choose [this program] again I would absolutely come back. The culture here at the hospital is outstanding and it is a very supportive environment," said Mazzuchelli. "One of the strengths of this program is that they encourage independent decision making. They are actually training you to make decisions as a doctor and a lot of us are going to the fleet after this so it really prepares you for that."
