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- The People Behind The Sacrifice
Marine 1st Lt. Dustin M. Shumney
Died January 26, 2005 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom
30, of Vallejo, Calif.; assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Hawaii; killed Jan. 26 when the CH-53E helicopter in which he was riding crashed near Rutbah, Iraq. Twenty-nine Marines and one sailor also were killed.
Calif. Marine among those killed in Super Stallion crash
Associated Press
BENICIA, Calif. — A 30-year-old Benicia man and father of three was among 31 troops killed earlier this week when their helicopter crashed in a sandstorm in Iraq.
Thirty Marines, including five from California, and one sailor were killed in Wednesday’s accident.
First Lt. Dustin M. Shumney was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, based at a Marine Corps base in Hawaii.
The crash occurred while the helicopter was transporting troops for security operations in preparation for Sunday’s elections. The military is investigating the cause of the crash that marked the deadliest day for U.S. troops since the invasion of Iraq nearly two years ago.
Shumney, a 1992 Benicia High School graduate, lived in Texas with his wife, Julie, and three young children.
He went to junior college in Concord, where he played football, then attended Sacramento State University before moving to Virginia for officer training.
“I loved him dearly. He was the apple of my eye. His mom was so proud of him,” said his grandmother, Lucille Nunes of Benicia. “He’s easygoing, lots of fun, loves sports. He loved kids, always liked playing with kids.”
Dustin Shumney’s mother, Shama, also of Benicia, said her son had planned to make a career in the military.
“He just got my care package,” Shama Shumney said. “And when I asked what he wanted, he said gummy bears. And so I brought him bags and bags of gummy bears.”
Ray Lewis, a Benicia High biology teacher, described Shumney as “the kid next door. He was athletic, he played football. He was good-looking, popular, smart.”
“He’s the first person I know who died over there,” Lewis added. “When it comes so close to home, it puts a whole new face on it.”