Shaun,
Please accept mine and my wife Kelli's condolences for such a tragic loss. I cannot imagine the pain you and your family are feeling from such a sudden loss of a brother, son, and husband. I did not know Christian for very long, but from the first minute of talking to him I could tell he was a stand up guy. With both of us deployed a lot while at the command, our wives are left to hold down the fort, and during that time Kelli and Ruth became good friends. It was through our wives that I had the honor of getting to know Christian outside of work or Wardroom events, and in a very short time came to know him as a friend.
Christian was one of the rare people in this world that truly placed the needs of others before himself. Maybe it was because he was a little older and wiser then the average lieutenant, or that he had several years of enlisted experience under his belt, but he was the kind of guy that would set aside his work or stay late in a heart beat to help a younger Sailor or fellow Officer in need. I can think of several times that Christian showed up quite tardy to free beer at the club or a get together because he was helping someone else out at work. He did this even though as the command's computer guru he had plenty on his plate, and he always did it with a smile. I really can't think of any time I heard Christian complain about anything.
Just before the accident Kelli had given Christian a round of golf for his birthday. My son loves golf, and with me being deployed Christian had no problems letting him play along. How many grown men would want or even think of letting another man's 13 year old son tag along on the course? Christian was that type of man, and he did it just because it made my son's day, even though for most people it would've been so much easier to just say "not this time kid." A day or two before he was lost Christian was at our house fixing the home computer for my wife, and for part of the time I was on the phone with him from Kuwait. I knew he had a lot to do at work already and was putting in some long hours, with both his ground job as well as flying in preparation to join us out here, but when I thanked him his only response was "no problem bro, your wife needs to be able to talk to you." This was just Christian, always putting others before himself.
To Ruth, words cannot express how sorry Kelli and I are for your loss. Our only hope is that somehow the solace in knowing how much he loved and cared for you will somehow ease the pain over time. Like that day we were diving and you got sea sick on the surface, rather than tell you to get on the boat and wait while he dove Christian instead took your hand and descended with you. Just as he stayed with you that day and many others he will always be with you. You were his world, and I do not believe love like that can be lost by physical separation here on earth.
Words can never fill the void left by Christian, he was one of a kind. A dedicated sailor, an outstanding Naval Officer, a loving son and brother, a devoted husband, and lucky for me a friend. I will truly miss the simple things we take for granted, the banter over email, giving him a hard time about his five o'clock shadow at 0900, or just kicking back for a beer and some laughs on someone's back porch. Christian always gave 110%, his drive enabled him to achieve his dream of becoming a Naval Aviator, and even after that 110% he always had more to spare for those around him.
Take care bro, we are all better people for knowing you and you will never be forgotten.
Shawn & Kelli Pearcy
CWO2 Shawn M. Pearcy, USN,
7341 Maintenance Material Control Officer
2515th Navy Air Ambulance Detachment
Camp Buehring, Kuwait
My Brother's Helo Goes Down - My brother, LT Christian Hescock is dead.
Sept. 24, 2007, 10:26PM
Navy helicopter crash in Guam kills 1. Three other crew members injured.
Associated Press
HAGATNA, Guam — A U.S. Navy helicopter crashed late Monday during a training mission in Guam, killing one of four people on board, the Navy said.The helicopter from the Sea Combat 25 squadron crashed into the Fena Reservoir on Navy property near Naval Magazine in Santa Rita.
Three members of the crew were rescued and transported to the island territory's Navy hospital. Lt. Donnell Evans, a Navy spokesman, said one crew member had a broken arm while the other two were treated for minor injuries.
The body of the fourth crew member was recovered from the water, Guam Fire Department spokesman Angel Llagas said. The names of the crew members were not released.
The helicopter squadron in Guam is the Navy's only one of its type. Its mission includes resupplying ships and providing 24-hour search and rescue and evacuation services for the U.S. territories of Guam and the Northern Marianas Islands.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Navy identifies crew member who died in Guam helicopter crash
By Vince Little, Stars and Stripes Mideast edition,
The Navy has identified the crewmember killed in Monday night’s helicopter crash on U.S. Naval Base Guam.
Lt. Christian Hescock, 34, died about two hours after the MH-60 Seahawk crashed into Fena Reservoir at about 10:30 p.m., during a training mission, said Lt. Donnell Evans, a Naval Base Guam spokesman.
Hescock, whose position was not released, was pronounced dead en route to the hospital.
Evans said the remaining three crewmembers, all men, were hurt in the crash, including a 27-year-old who suffered a dislocated shoulder. The other two, identified only as being ages 27 and 20, sustained minor injuries.
All were treated at U.S. Naval Hospital Guam. Evans could not confirm Tuesday whether any of the servicemembers had been released.
The helicopter was assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25, stationed at Andersen Air Force Base on Guam.
Evans said Tuesday he had no more details on the cause of the crash.
“Right now, we’re still in the recovery and investigative phases,” he said. “The majority of the aircraft is submerged. … Once we’re able to recover the aircraft, we can start the investigation.”
Evans said a memorial service for Hescock may be held in the coming days.
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