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CWO3 Manuel (Manny) Vizinho
to remember
Marine 1stLt Michael Reilly.
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Contact Info
Home Town Imperial
Last Address Imperial
Date of Passing Jan 08, 1987
Location of Interment Massachusetts National Cemetery (VA) - Bourne, Massachusetts
Boston Globe, The (MA) - January 15, 1987
Deceased Name: LT. MICHAEL T. REILLY, 29; KILLED IN CALIF. MARINE HELICOPTER CRASH
Lt. Michael T. Reilly, 29, formerly of Taunton, was killed in the crash last Thursday of a CH-53 E Marine helicopter at the Salton Sea Naval Test Range in southern California.
Born and raised in Taunton, Lt. Reilly was a skilled athlete. He was an all-star basketball player at Coyle-Cassidey High School and played football at Assumption College in Worcester, where he was named to "Who's Who Among American Colleges and Universities."
A few years after his graduation from college, Lt. Reilly enrolled as a merchant marine at Calhoun College, a marine engineering school, and he took the first steps toward his life's ambition -- to become a flier.
By 1983, he had earned his lieutenant's bars in Quantico, Va., and from there he went on to flight training in Pensacola, Fla.
On Sept. 15, 1985, he joined Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465 at the Tustin Air Station, 40 miles southeast of Los Angeles.
Lt. Reilly was the copilot of the CH-53 helicopter that crashed last week. He died along with the pilot and three crew members during a night landing excercise.
"Everyone knew the danger in what they were doing, but all were willing to take the risk," said Anne L. (O'Keefe) Reilly, Lt. Reilly's wife of three years.
The Marine Corps fliers and their families were all very close. "They are our family here on the West Coast," Mrs. Reilly said.
In addition to his wife, Lt. Reilly leaves his parents, George J. and Miriam A. Reilly; two brothers, George Jr. and William; and a sister, Kathleen. All are Taunton residents.
A funeral Mass will be said Friday, Jan. 16, at 10 a.m. in St. Mary's Church, Taunton.
Burial will be at Otis Air Force Base, Cape Cod.
A memorial service will be held at the Tustin Air Station in California.
Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465 (HMH-465) is a United States Marine Corps helicopter squadron consisting of CH-53E Super Stallion transport helicopters. The squadron, known as "Warhorse", is based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 16 (MAG-16) and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (3rd MAW).
