Marine Lance Cpl. Gael Saintvil

Died January 26, 2005 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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24, of Orange, Fla.; 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.

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Orlando Marine killed in Iraq helicopter crash

Associated Press

ORLANDO, Fla. — Belga Saintvil feared the worst when he learned that a helicopter carrying Marines crashed during a sandstorm in the Iraqi desert, killing all aboard.

And sadly, his intuition proved correct.

Lance Cpl. Gael Saintvil, 24, was among the 31 victims of Wednesday’s crash, his father told Orlando television station WESH.

“It happened for a good cause, for the country. ... Don’t like it, but what’s happened has happened,” Belga Saintvil said.

Wednesday’s crash occurred as personnel were being transported by the CH-53E Super Stallion as part of security and stabilization operations leading up to Sunday’s scheduled elections in Iraq.

Insurgents killed six other American military personnel Wednesday, making it the deadliest day for U.S. forces since the Iraq war began.

“Even though I don’t like the war, I do support the troops and the job they do,” Belga Saintvil told the television station.

Belga Saintvil said he was leery of his son going to Iraq, and said he told his son he hoped for him not to go.

“He said, ‘Pappy, I must go and be with my unit,”’ Belga Saintvil said. “He wanted to be there so bad.”