One of the U.S. Marines killed in Norway was from eastern Kentucky.
The U.S. Marine Corps has identified the four Marines who died when their Osprey aircraft crashed Friday night in a Norwegian town in the Arctic Circle during a NATO exercise.
The men, all assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261, Marine Aircraft Group 26, 2d Marine Aircraft Wing stationed on Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, were identified as:
- Matthew J. Tomkiewicz, 27, of Fort Wayne, Indiana.
- Ross A. Reynolds, 27, of Leominster, Massachusetts.
- Gunnery Sgt. James W. Speedy, 30, of Cambridge, Ohio.
- Jacob M. Moore, 24, of Catlettsburg, Kentucky.
In a statement issued Sunday night, a Marine Corps spokesman said the bodies were removed from the crash site and were in the process of being returned to the U.S.
The cause of the crash remained under investigation, but Norwegian police reported bad weather in the area.
Officials in Norway said the MV-22B Osprey crashed in Graetaedalen in Beiarn, south of Bodoe.
Gov. Andy Beshear issued the following statement on social media regarding Cpl Moore’s death:
Britainy and I are sending our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Cpl. Jacob Moore. We honor his bravery and service and hold all of the families impacted by this tragic accident in prayer.
By Ken Howlett, News Director, and the Associated Press
