Two Pendleton Marines ID'd among dead in helicopter crash

By: JOE BECK - Staff Writer | Thursday, February 8, 2007 9:29 PM PST ∞

Marine Corps Sgt. Jessica Pfister with her husband, Sgt. Travis Pfister, in a recent photo. Travis Pfister was one of five Marines and two sailors killed when a helicopter crashed in Iraq on Wednesday.
Courtesy Photo

CAMP PENDLETON ---- At least two Marines from Camp Pendleton were among the seven service members killed Wednesday in a helicopter crash in Iraq.

Thursday, family members and reports from hometown newspapers identified the dead as Sgt. Travis Pfister 27, of Richland, Wash., and Capt. Jennifer J. Harris, 28, of Swampscott, Mass. Both were killed when the CH-46 Sea Knight troop-transport helicopter they were riding in went down about 20 miles west of Baghdad in Anbar province, an area that has been the scene of many Marine casualties in Iraq.

The identities of the other dead, reportedly three Marines and two sailors, were unavailable from the Pentagon.

Pfister's wife, Sgt. Jessica Pfister, is a Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton. Thursday, she said in a phone interview that her husband sent her an e-mail on the day he died that referred to his scheduled return to Camp Pendleton on March 5, which would have completed his third deployment to Iraq.

"He said he loved me very much, and he couldn't wait to get home," she said.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Three Marine Corps officials said Wednesday that witnesses in nearby Marine aircraft saw the stricken helicopter in flames but saw no evidence of hostile fire. The witnesses reported that the pilot appeared to attempt an emergency landing but lost control of the aircraft as it descended, according to Marine officials. Their account differed from that of an Iraqi air force officer who said an anti-aircraft missile brought down the helicopter.

Pfister, Harris and the downed helicopter were from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364, known as the "Purple Foxes." The squadron is based at Camp Pendleton and attached to Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Miramar Marine Corps Air Station.

Harris' family was not available for comment.

John Sacherski, commander of VFW Post 1240 in Swampscott, said the town was "devastated" by the loss of Harris, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and the second person from the community to die in Iraq since September.

A story in the Boston Herald quoted John Schultz, a confidant of the family, as saying that Swampscott threw a "welcome home" party for Harris last summer, and she communicated regularly with family members in her hometown.

"This was her third tour," Schultz told the Herald. "She was scheduled to come home next week."

The Boston Globe quoted a statement from her family: "Jennifer Harris exemplified the best of what this country has to offer. She was proud to be a Marine and proud to serve her country."

Jessica Pfister said Thursday she knew all too well the hazards her husband faced in Iraq. Both were in the Marines when they met in 1999 at a Christmas party.

"I was cold and he gave me a coat. He told me he didn't like me, he was just tired of seeing me shiver," Pfister recalled.

They married in 2001 in a ceremony described on an unofficial squadron Web site as "a traditional Marine Corps affair with most of the Purple Foxes in attendance."

Jessica Pfister said Travis left the Marines in 2003 and went to work as a civilian mechanic with Boeing Co. Meanwhile, she stayed in the Marines as a recruiter in Oceanside and Temecula.

In 2005, Travis Pfister re-entered the Marines after learning that the Purple Foxes unit was scheduled to return to Iraq. One of its main tasks in Iraq is evacuating the wounded to medical facilities. Pfister worked in the unit as a crew chief.

Jessica Pfister said she feared for him in Iraq and he had sought to obtain an assignment with a unit not scheduled to deploy to Iraq during his last stay in the United States.

"I didn't want him flying anymore because I was afraid he was going to get shot down, and he said, 'You know the crew chief never dies.' He was very strong, very strong," Jessica Pfister said.

She said her husband loved the Marine Corps and helicopters, and saw himself as someone with a special responsibility to other members of his unit, especially those with less experience.

"He told me he was very concerned about them. They had the look of fear in their eyes, and he wanted to be there to look after them," Jessica Pfister said. "He didn't want anyone else to be scared. He knew what he was doing, and he was confident of what he was doing."

Richard Pfister, Travis Pfister's father, said his son was always fascinated by the military growing up on a farm in eastern Washington.

"He loved flying helicopters. He was always volunteering when somebody couldn't go on a mission," Pfister said of his son.

-- Contact staff writer Joe Beck at (760) 740-3516 or jbeck@nctimes.com.

24 comment(s)[-]Go to Top

morty wrote on Feb 9, 2007 3:33 AM:these choper crashes are just to much .what is going on?? i feel for all the fallen but i love the coppers they are such a beauty up there i hate to se them fall.GOD BLESS THEM.

P. G. wrote on Feb 9, 2007 4:00 AM:What great Americans we have lost. We should be both sad and proud.

Patrick wrote on Feb 9, 2007 8:12 AM:More blood on Bush's hands, and Cheney's. Like biblical David they will learn that you needn't pull the trigger to be guilty of murder.

MG wrote on Feb 9, 2007 8:38 AM:To Patrick it is not the time or place to make a comment like that. Honor the Soliders. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Fallen Heroes family God Bless Them

Harry wrote on Feb 9, 2007 8:48 AM:We keep sending the helicopters up and they are shooting them down, better with practice. We are ineffective in training the Iraqi military how to fight but we are real good at training the insurgents in how to kill us.

To Patrick wrote on Feb 9, 2007 8:54 AM:How DARE you bring politics into this. Did Bush or Cheney go over there and shoot down the helicopter himself??? Tred lightly my friend, this is neither the time nor the place to be saying such blasphemy. Respect the office and the man who has been elected. Save your personal views for another time. No one needs to read such blind hatred. To the families of the fallen Marines and Sailors, I grieve for your losses and will continue to pray for you. This hits very close to home. To the military, THANK YOU for your BRAVERY and EVERYTHING you do for our freedom and the freedom of others. God Bless you! From an EXTREMELY Proud daughter of a 46 Crew Chief Marine.

Admit it wrote on Feb 9, 2007 9:26 AM:This war is lost; and our so-called superior fighting force is getting its tail kicked repeatedly at this point. RETREAT.

Donovan wrote on Feb 9, 2007 10:09 AM:Having served with Travis with the purple foxes in 2001. I would like to send my condolences to his wife Jessica and his family and friends. He was a wonderful person, friend, brother, husband, and Marine. Let us not forget the loved ones and friends we have lost. God Bless you Travis. You will forever be missed. Semper Fi!

In a saner world wrote on Feb 9, 2007 10:37 AM:these deaths would cause everyone to pause for a while and ask why, and no one would scream "blasphemy". People would honor the slain soldiers by removing their comrades in arms from the suicide mission they're caught in, like sitting ducks. In an aggressive and illegal profiteering war based on lies, driven further down the rabbit hole by utter incompetence which never should have happened in the first place, and which should at the very least have ended years ago. To those who think only their flag-draped opinions count, read up on something called the Constitution and the First Amendment.

MAC wrote on Feb 9, 2007 12:57 PM:Let us ALL PRAY for these families and friends. God knows this is a true loss to so many. Also please pray for our troops that are still in harms way... God Bless them ALL.

Gee MG When is the time?? wrote on Feb 9, 2007 1:59 PM:It is now or never, politics got us into this mess, politics will have to get us out. Don't let this man die in vain, this was a life cut short by a stubborn and uncaring president. Our country is falling apart, we are the laughing stock of the world. A special thanks to those that voted for Bush in 2004, I hope you are happy with the outcome.

Whats With the Prayer? wrote on Feb 9, 2007 2:01 PM:Do you seriously think that it helps? GET REAL PEOPLE, prayer might make you feel all warm and fuzzy but it ain't going to get the troops out. Get on the phone to your representatives and tell them we wnat a national debate in Congress and we want to get the hell out of Vietnam, errr, I mean Iraq.

JASON wrote on Feb 9, 2007 2:38 PM:From a former "Gunfighter". Please honor these Marines for their service. They are not soldiers they are Marines, there is a difference. Also, Marines don't want to hear your politics "Patrick". All of you people that are complaining and want to retreat would be speaking Japanese without the Marines to protect you. So show some respect. "Gunfighters Rule"

Adam wrote on Feb 9, 2007 2:59 PM:Rest in Peace JR, we all miss you bro. See ya in a few..

Skip wrote on Feb 9, 2007 3:58 PM:I hate to see what happens when the Osprey's are flying.

Proud Blue wrote on Feb 9, 2007 4:48 PM:Gold bless the fallen troops. Shame on all of you who are making this a political issue - we are fighting for YOUR FREEDOM! You don't like it? Move to another country and get out of ours!

There is a difference... wrote on Feb 9, 2007 5:36 PM:There is a difference between Soldiers and Marines fro being a former member of both. (Formerly MSF bn and 82nd Airborne. The ARMY actually HAS money to equip and train it's personnel. The marines ALWAYS wait and hope to go to jump school. Besides 3 times in a combat zone?!? He was askin' for it. You can't put yourself in the bullseye so many times and expect to live. It's a free country right brother?

Troop Supporter wrote on Feb 9, 2007 6:13 PM:My thoughts and prayers are with the families of these brave Fallen Marines and Sailors. God bless our Fallen, I grieve for their loss, and I honor and respect their courage and commitment to our country.

To Proud Blue wrote on Feb 9, 2007 6:25 PM:I never knew Iraq stold our freedom..

to "there is a difference" wrote on Feb 9, 2007 7:32 PM:you claim to be a former member of both the army and the marine corps...i guess respect wasnt standard issue back in your day.

Deepest Regrets wrote on Feb 9, 2007 8:19 PM:My prayers go out to eh families who have lost loved ones. Coming from someone who's only brother just enlisted in the Army I thank everyone of the soliders who are fighting to portect our freedom. God Bless you all and to those of you that don't have soemthing nice to say about this terrible accident keep it to yourself!

Pinky wrote on Feb 10, 2007 11:54 AM:You will be in my heart and in my prayers Travis and Jess. God bless you will always be remembered. Semper Fi Purple Foxes.

What is going on??? wrote on Feb 12, 2007 7:12 AM:To:"To Proud Blue" Did you already FORGET? 9/11 ring any bells???? And to everyone else blaming Bush...who's side are you on anyways? Do you understand the impact of what's going on? Do you not see that people are in need of help and what do we do? Just sit back and do nothing? How selfish. Besides, maybe if you did your homework, you would see it's the surrounding countries pouring into Iraq that's killing our Heroic men and women. No one likes war, but it is necessary to stop these spoiled and arrogent "jihaddists" from destroying anyone else. How about we send you all who bash our President over there, would you gladly die for another? Our Military does every day...you don't deserve such an honor. I hope you think twice before you disgrace our country and her leader.

Dave wrote on Feb 12, 2007 9:40 AM:Patrick, Harry, Admit It, and Saner World: Travis Pfister was discharged but re-enlisted for a third tour when his unit was scheduled to return to Iraq. This man gave his life for a cause and duty he believed in. I respect your rights to have opinions, but your poor judgement in attempting to denigrate the cause for which this man gave his life, and his family's sacrifice, in this forum, is disrepectful and offensive. To his family, please accept my sympathy and gratitude for Sergeant Pfister's sacrifice. To paraphrase another's words, it is for us the living, to here dedicate ourselves to the unfinished work which Sergeant Pfister so nobly advanced, and to highly resolve that Sergeant Pfister shall not have died in vain.

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