'CRANK' or 'Horse'

This is a memorial for people to leave thoughts, stories, and condolences about my brother, a U.S. Navy helo pilot who left us way too early. Godspeed bro! My family would like to thank all of you who visit, who knew my brother, who served with him, who flew with him, and encouraged him. He was loved by many, but I was proud to call him brother.

A special thanks to everybody at HSC-25 for their support and their wives for supporting my brother's wife through this tragedy. I'd also like to thank Guam Fire Dept. SAR, Guam Police Dept., the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy and the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Marianas.

Please leave comments, stories, and pictures by emailing them to shaunhescock@comcast.net. I will create posts out of them. Please also leave your name. Thank you.

The letter I prepared for Christian's Memorial

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for being here at this memorial to my brother, Lt. Christian John Hescock. I am sorry that I could not attend.

I loved my brother very much and I can’t begin to tell you how proud I am of him and his various accomplishments throughout the years.

When I think of my brother I can’t help but think of the US Navy, and all the opportunities the Navy has given him. They took a gawky kid, who had some rough talent and forged him into a man drawing those various rough talents to the surface and molding him into the sailor and officer we all knew. To me, the US Navy and my brother represent four qualities: Excellence, duty, honor, sacrifice.

All of you here today have sacrificed to get where you are. The duties and missions you undertake are dangerous in nature and there is a real chance that you may not make it home. You know this, but you persevere and do your duty anyway. You all have my sincere admiration. You are all part of an amazing tradition of excellence, duty, honor, and sacrifice that harkens back to the birth of our nation. You make manifest the vision that President Abraham Lincoln had on November 19, 1863 when he spoke these famous words…

“It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us…that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion; that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain;that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom; and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Our Union is a legacy that the men and women of the US Navy have helped keep alive since October 13, 1775. You are all a part of that legacy, I am proud that my brother is also a part of that great tradition.

I can only hope that his memory and his life will inspire you and drive you to excellence in your careers and your lives. Live them to the fullest.

In conclusion, please let me say that I would like to tell my sister-in-law Ruth that I love you very much and though we didn’t spend a lot of time together, I think of you very highly. My brother was the fortunate one in the relationship and there was no doubt in my mind when I met you that you were the one for him.

Pete & Peggy Lance, my brother loved you both very much and I always felt like I was a part of your family as well. Thank you for your support and your love for my brother.

I would like to recognize Jonathon Fletcher and Thomas Butts. You were more than just friends to my brother. You were his brothers and he loved you both as such. I ought to know.

I would also like to thank LCDR David Orlosky, LCDR Bruce Nolan, & Commander Pat Everly for taking care of Ruth and my brother and for being there for our family day or night.

Thank you to the Navy wives, you are the cornerstone that keeps the home fires burning and you give your spouses the peace of mind to concentrate on their duties. Thank you for being there for Ruth. You are all outstanding.

I'd also like to thank Guam Fire Dept. Search and Rescue, Guam Police Dept., the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy and the Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Marianas.

Thank you HSC-25 (Two Five) for your input on my brother’s memorial site, for your kind words, for your pictures, stories, thoughts, and prayers. HSC-25 will have a special place in my heart.

May God bless you all and keep you safe through your various deployments and assignments. I salute all of you.

Shaun Hescock

Go Island Knights

Go Navy

Hoorah!!

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.

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.

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

AZ2 (AW) Susan Schmitt HSC-25

A Story to share:


Shaun,
Your family and your brother have continuously been in my prayers, I would like to offer my deepest sympathy. Although I did not know your brother well, I do have a story I’d like to share with you. When I first moved into the barracks he was my neighbor, one day in the smoke pit he asked me, “You live next to me in the barracks don’t you?” And I told him I did, he said, “You’re the quietest neighbor I’ve ever had.” And I responded with, “You’re the noisiest I’ve ever had.” We laughed, and I told him I was just kidding. I realized quickly that he was down to earth and very kind. Though I am considerably lower rank than he is, he always treated me with equality and respect. My admiration for him is vast and I will miss him deeply. I will continue to pray for him, his wife and the rest of your family, God bless you all.

With sympathy,
AZ2 (AW) SUSAN SCHMITT

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Terence David (Class 9450 - AW3) US Navy

Dear Hescock family,
I befriended Christian in July 1994 at Boot camp, in RTC Orlando, Fl. It was notoriously hot, ridiculously humid, and we were both Aircrew candidates.Us Aircrew guys received the special privilege of waking up at 3am every morning to do physical training that bordered on pure sociopathic torture. Although in those first few weeks we couldn't talk much (since we were all suffering from the ass kicking our Aircrew drill instructors were giving us) Hescock and I bonded, I guess because we were a couple of the few Aircrew candidates in our class, so there was some sort of pride thing. Or maybe it's just because we were both stuck in the same hell and needed each other to lean on. Well, I think I needed him more than he needed me!
In any case, amidst the whirlwind and stress of adjusting to navy life, and getting an extra special beating in Aircrew PT, Christian always made things laughable. I remember during barracks inspections he would be standing at attention, while our CC would be yelling up a storm, berating us, putting us in push up position, and then into attention, back and forth for what seemed like hours, and Christian would just stare at me with that classic shit eating grin. "WTF?!" I would be thinking!! "This Hescock guy is either crazy or stupid, but he's gonna get us in trouble"! It would be so hard for me to keep composure....I wanted to break rank and double over in laughter at his comical/maniacal smile....with time I learned he was neither crazy nor stupid, just a guy who knew how to make light of a ridiculous and stressful situation. During Aircrew PT, when we were wallowing in our own puddles of sweat, doing a million push ups and flutter kicks, I would look over to Christian who would have this intense determination on his face, pumping out those push ups as sweat dripped off his nose like maple syrup off a stack of hotcakes. It was like hunting season as our drill instructors would "drop" aircrew candidates like flies who they felt weren't cuttin' it... more than once I believe Christian's own determination motivated me to keep on going when I really wanted to quit the whole Aircrew program.
During the end of our days at boot camp Christian and I got to work together during what Navy boot camp calls "work week". Since RTC Orlando was shutting down, and we were one of the last companies to be graduating before the gates were locked forever, we were tasked to clean out an entire barracks of loose items such as desks, chairs, racks, etc. to make way for demolition of the building. What seemed like a lot of work turned out to be the most "skate" duty a sailor could ask for. We had a "geedunk" vending machine, soda machine, which were both forbidden items during our vacation at bootcamp, AND we found a working phone, in a closet of all places! Christian and I had the entire barracks to ourselves, with virtually no supervision. We were like two kids, home alone on a sugar high! We took turns using the phone to call loved ones. Then we got so sick off of candy and soda we could barely do the work we were tasked to accomplish. Needless to say when our drill instructor checked in on us he was not pleased with our progress!
Well we survived work week and the rest of bootcamp, and afterwards we both made it to Naval Aircrewman Candidate School in Pensacola. Christian ended up a class ahead of me because I had a medical hold, but we still managed to hang out during our off time and he would tell me what sort of hell to expect the next week since he was a week ahead of me in training. After Aircrew school we went our separate ways, but Christian did keep up by writing me every so often, but I hate to admit that I wasn't as ambitious in taking pen to paper. Years later, while visiting home (San Diego) I was at an electronics store and I could have swore I saw Christian. To this day I don't know why I didn't go up to him to say hello and catch up, it was one of those "caught me off guard" moments, and I have always regretted not turning around to do so. Finding his profile on togetherweserved.com brightened my day and I thought I would be able to finally catch up with Christian. I quickly learned that he had fallen, and now here I am. Saddened, frustrated and yet honored to have known and served with such a great guy.
I'll always remember Christian as having a very kind soul and now matter how bad we thought we had it, he had a smile (or really, that ridiculous grin) on his swarthy five o' clock shadowed face. I'm not the most religious man, but I know that God and his cherubs are giving Christian all the flight time he needs up there in the wild blue yonder.
Wings of gold we strive to wear
Learning to survive is our only care
Willing to die for the nation we love
We'll soar like eagles in the skies above
The courage we have you can plainly see
We come from the Navy and the USMC!
AIRCREW AIRCREW HOO RAH!!
Class 9450

Sincerely, Terence David (AW3 / USN / VET)
P.S. I have some pictures and possibly an old letter or two from Christian which I will forward to you once I locate them.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Paul White - Navy HC 11

To Whom it may concern.

I was stationed with Chris in HC-11 in the 90’s

Although I heard of his passing shortly after the event, I never felt that my take on him could match up with the wonderful words that others had written about him.

Even now I feel that my words are inadequate .

I knew Chris as an enlisted man, as was I.

He was one of those guys that if you were in a bad mood and ran into him, you mood was lightened after being around him.

Chris was a good aircrewman and I’m sure was a great pilot.

News of his passing caused a shadow to cross my heart but, more importantly……..caused me to reflect on my memories of him and that shadow has been replaced with a smile.

I hope that you and your family are doing well.

V/R

Paul White

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Navy Times Article: Investigation Report




















Here is a recently released investigation report that was published in Navy Times. I am haunted by the paragraph that states that he was unstrapped from his seat, but his emergency breathing device was still in his vest. I don't have much else to say about this, I need to let it sink in.

NAVY TIMES ARTICLE


Crew errors led to fatal Seahawk crash


By Andrew Tilghman - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Sep 23, 2009 5:48:36 EDT

Critical crew errors during a nighttime training mission on Guam caused the crash of an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter in September 2007, according to a recently released investigation report. The crash resulted in the drowning of the helicopter’s pilot, Lt. Christian Hescock.

Hescock, 34, was practicing a low-level rope-ladder recovery operation a few feet above the water when his aircraft’s tail struck a palm tree and crashed into the water, according to the investigation.

The investigation of the Sept. 24, 2007, mishap faulted the crew members for underestimating the risk involved in the low-level terrain flight, using the wrong control system at the time of the approach and failing to wave off when the aircraft began drifting toward a tree.

It was shortly after 10 p.m. when the helo from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25, based at Guam’s Andersen Air Force Base, approached the Fena Reservoir for the training mission inside Naval Ammunition Magazine Guam.

The aircraft descended over the water to about 25 feet and slowed to about 5 knots.

Problems began after one pilot instructed the other to engage the coupler, a control system that allows the crew to manually set the altitude and ground speed. But rather than engaging the coupler, the pilot instead engaged an automated control system, the report says.

Names in the investigation report provided to Navy Times were redacted, so it is unclear which pilot made the error.

That system, known as a radar altimeter hold, steadied the altitude but did not control the aircraft’s movement. The crew soon realized the helo was drifting rapidly to the right toward palm trees on a nearby spit of land.


One of the crew members saw the rotor blades approaching the trees and urgently called for power, but before the pilot could lift, the aircraft shuddered and began to yaw to the right, the report said.

The crew heard a series of loud bangs and the aircraft struck the water, left side down, nose low.

The cabin and cockpit immediately filled with water, the report says.

Using emergency breathing devices, the pilot who wasn’t Hescock and the two crew members got out of the aircraft and made it to the surface. Hescock remained trapped.

One crew member trained as a rescue swimmer tried to reach Hescock by swimming down the tail of the aircraft toward the cockpit, but he said he couldn’t see anything below the waterline because of the darkness and debris, the report says.

Emergency crews arrived shortly afterward, but divers later found Hescock’s body trapped inside the cockpit. He was unstrapped from his seat, but his emergency breathing device was still in his vest, the report says.

Doctors later determined that Hescock drowned, the report says.

The only other injury in the mishap was a broken arm, suffered by the other pilot, the report says.

The Judge Advocate General’s manual investigation was conducted by Naval Air Forces.

The investigation found that the crew’s preflight preparations incorrectly assessed the mission’s potential hazards as “low” rather than “medium.” The mission should have required a second signature from a helicopter aircraft commander.

The mishap came after a Hot Pump Crew Swap, which means the crew jumped into the aircraft immediately after a different crew had completed a training mission.

Hescock, originally from Oregon City, Ore., enlisted in the Navy in 1994, according to personnel records; he graduated from University of San Diego and received his commission in 2002.

Friday, May 15, 2009

Liberty

Liberty
by Chris De Burgh

Roll away the dawn,
Roll away the dawn and let me see,
The land of the free,
Has anything changed at all;

Sweet liberty,
Sweet liberty is in our hands
It's part of the plan,
Or is it a state of mind?

Horses and men,
Horses and men are on the field,
They didn't yield.
Many have fallen here;

Never forget
Never forget what they have done,
The time will come,
When it will change again.
Never forget!

Monday, March 9, 2009

2003 Paintball Match - Christian's Bachelor Party










I found this disc that my dad gave me a year ago. Christian is standing by my old Bronco. In the pics are pictures of me when I was 280lbs. Yikes! Pete Lance, Jonathon Fletcher, and Troy Cooper are also in the pics. Enjoy!

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Announcement!

I am pleased to announce that on March 29, 2009, the first annual Lt. Christian Hescock Memorial Paintball Match will take place. Christian, my father, and I used to play paintball quite a bit when he would come home on leave. Those of you who knew my brother may not have known that he was a paintball player, but the kid could play and he was a fierce opponent.

At some time, I will post some of the paintball stories of my brother that I have in my memory. I know my father could also add a few of his own. I will keep everyone posted on the match details.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Memories....

I opened a closet I have out in the garage and I found my old paintball stuff. It's hard to rummage through this stuff because my dad, my brother, and I used to go paintballing all the time. I found a couple of my brothers old markers and his gear. It was fun thinking about all the good memories I have of us playing, I just wish I some pictures or videos of us playing.

I'm thinking of putting on a paintball game last Sunday of March. I have to get my markers tuned and my tanks re-certified, but other than that I should be a go.

Just getting into my gear and pulling things out. My old gloves, my brothers gloves, his harness, his mask, which is still in the box, all our tanks, and our contraptions to fill the balls into the hoppers quickly. He was hopeless, he used to spill paintballs everywhere. I miss him. It's going to be hard playing without him, but I know he'll be there in spirit. I always had fun shooting my brother and Troy in the tower they used to hide in. Course, nobody ever got them...they always wiped the evidence off. I'd love to get Jonathon up here for the game. I remember at my brothers bachelor party, we had a hell of a good time playing. What good times we had! I'm not sure how dad will hold up. Dad and I used to call Christian up when he was in San Diego and in Pensacola, NAS that we were on our way to play paintball. He used to get so pissed at us, it was too much fun rubbing it in. I decided to give my dad Christian's Blue Autococker that he never got a chance to shoot.

While I type this, I'm listening to the song Photograph by Nickelback. I loaded it on the music player. His picture sits on my desk and while I type, I look over and see his face. I'm surprised that the tears aren't flowing.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

A letter I found

I was cleaning through some files and getting things organized and I found three pieces of notebook paper folded up with my address. I unfolded them and looked at the papers and it was a letter from Christian back when he was in boot in RTC Orlando. I thought I would share it with all of you...

94 July 14

Dear Shaun,

Well boot under way, I've had my shots and passed my first P.T. test. Dude! I never knew I could do 20 push-ups at 2 sec. intervals (up 2 sec. down 2 sec.) with only my nose touching.

I have to be up at 2:45 am to start Aircrew training. I also passed the ten minute float. We are going to run 5 1/2 miles at a pace of 1 mile per 4 min. I have to pass the Aircrew, Dive Force, Seal entrance exam by the 7th week. I still want Aircrew, the other two really don't appeal to me.

Shaun, you could really dig this, it's pretty smokin. We were marching down the street and we looked on a pole and someone was raising a black flag, the three horn sounded and that means streets are secured, "Off Now". So we were marching to dinner and lightning struck about 25 feet over our head. Dude, our butt hairs were standing up because of the static electricity. 85 hearts about leaped out of their skin at the same time. The guide arm (flag holder) was lucky he didn't get zapped because the pole he carries is aluminum.

People here are pretty cool, but we had 13 people who didn't pass the physical training. One guy couldn't even make it through the stretches. He might be a SEP or if he's lucky be a PT hold in BATT1. Our pin staff f___ed up today and a couple kids got streets marks, which you should never get on the whole time you're here, and everyone who's in trouble including the PT flails are going to the bad place. BSIT, whatever that means, I get to watch them tomorrow. Then we had bunk drills and 25 more get to join them. I was freakin! I thought I was screwed, but I'm not joining, so I passed. Dude, people are getting cut left and right!

It's hard to believe I'm so far away and for so long, but I really hope you guys can come down for graduation. NOW REMEMBER, NOTHING IS FOR SURE AS FAR AS DATES GO!! So don't buy plane tickets or anything. I finally saw the P-Coats. They are way smooth. I'll try to get you one. Later on when I get more freedom, I'll send you something from the NAVY store. Well, that's about it. I have to be up in 3 1/2 hours, so I'll write and call later.

My address: SR Hescock xxxxxxxxx
BATT 10 C-2 I 123
RTC Orlando, FL 32893-5123

Love,
Christian


Tell mom I love her and take care of her for me. I'll try to call earlier in the day maybe on Wed.


I'm really thankful I found this letter. The paper is looking pretty old so I'm going to slide it in a plastic cover and preserve it.

Shaun

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Armistice Day

"To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…" Woodrow Wilson 1919


To all those who have served and are serving the country protecting and defending the constitution; God bless you. Many of us are reminded of those sacrifices daily, others only on a particular day of the year. However, your service, heroism, and tribulations shall be remembered for eternity in the hearts and minds of those who matter most; your loved ones and they who served with you.

Shaun

Monday, November 10, 2008

Pictures of Christians Memorial Service

Q MadP took pictures of the memorial service held for Christian on October 7, 2007. You can find a link to the pictures here!

Music Update

I know the same music has been playing for some time, so I pruned off the dead links and updated it with music that my brother liked. Enjoy.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Family Pics

Picture of my grandfather Robert "Bob" Ganjian with my brother.







CJ, Critter, Crit, the "frog" are different names we used to call Christian. I still called him "Crit" just not in front of people he knew or worked with. I think I did it once down at North Island and his eyes got really big and he snarled and said, "DUDE! Not here!!" I could have made a fortune with that knowledge on the Essex. Here's a pic of us when we were growing up 70's style.

Service Pictures

I think the first picture is a pic aboard the USS Essex, but I'm not sure. I'm sure Fletcher knows.






The second pic is Christian doing what he did best...keeping the bench warm.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Appreciation



Jonathan Kline sent me a couple photos to post. Thanks Jonathan. I really do appreciate it.