A U.S. Navy officer from Orange Park died over the weekend from injuries he sustained when struck by a spinning helicopter blade in an accident at Camp Pendleton, Calif.
The accident happened Wednesday, according to our Florida Times-Union news partner.
Lt. James E. Mazzuchelli, 32, was a flight surgeon assigned to Marine Light Helicopter Squadron 267 Marine Aircraft Group 39 at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, the Navy confirmed Sunday.
Col. Matthew Mowery, commander of MAG-39, described Mazzuchelli as “an incredibly talented physician and sailor.”
“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 in a statement.
Mowery also said Mazzuchelli’s “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 said.
The squadron flies UH-1Y Venoms and AH-1Z Cobras. Mazzuchelli had been struck by the tail rotor of a UH-1Y Venom about 6 p.m. last Wednesday in an accident that remains under investigation, according to 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing public affairs.
He died shortly before 6 a.m. Saturday at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla.
Mazzuchelli received his Navy commission in June 2010, and had previously deployed with the squadron to Japan in 2016, Military.com reported.
To read the complete Military.com article: https://www.military.com/daily-news/2018/02/25/marines-identify-flight-surgeon-who-died-after-struck-rotor-blade.html
