Westchester Marine Killed in Afghanistan

MYFOXNY.COM - A Marine originally from Westchester County was among four servicemen killed when two U.S. choppers collided in the sky over Afghanistan.

Capt. Eric A. Jones, 29, grew up in Pound Ridge and attended high school in Bedford. His family now lives in Massachusetts, according to a report.

He and Cpl. Gregory Fleury, 23, of Alaska, Capt. David Mitchell, 30, of Ohio, and Capt. Kyle Van De Giesen, 29, of Massacusetts, died Oct. 26 during combat operations in Helmand province.

"My condolences go out to the family and friends of Capt. Eric Jones who was one of four Marines killed yesterday in Afghanistan,'' said Westchester County Executive Andy Spano. "We salute his bravery and honor the sacrifice he made on behalf of his country.''

Jones, who was also an Iraq veteran, was commissioned in the Marines in August 2004 and promoted to captain in October 2008, according to a LoHud.com report. He served as a pilot or co-pilot.

Fleury, Jones and Van De Giesen were assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based out of Camp Pendleton, Calif.

They were flying in a UH-1N Huey, a modernized version of the helicopter made famous in Vietnam. They collided with an AH-1 Cobra before sunrise, according to a Marine spokesman.

Mitchell was assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based out of Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Two other servicemen were hurt in the crash.