GySgt Holley enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 2003, he was Crew Chief aboard a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter that was training over the desert near El Centro, CA when it crashed and killed all 4 aboard on April 3, 2018. GySgt Holley was attached to the Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron
465, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, MCAS Miramar.

GySgt Holley, originally from Dayton, Ohio, had previously served 2 combat tours in Iraq, duty at Marine Corps Base Quantico, in Japan as part of the Unit Deployment Program, and in the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Gunnery Sgt. Holley's personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (4th award), Air Medal-Strike/Flight (9th award), and the Navy and Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (4th award).
In 2015, then Staff Sgt. Holley, Marine Medium, Tiltrotor Squadron 161 (REIN), was named a recipient of the A. Bryan Lasswell Award for Fleet Support.

The commanding officer of these Marines issued this statement:

“The hardest part of being a Marine is the tragic loss of life of a fellow brother-in-arms,” Col. Craig Leflore, commanding officer of Marine Aircraft Group 16, said in a Marine Corps statement. “These ‘Warhorse’ Marines brought joy and laughter to so many around them,” he said. “They each served honorably, wore the uniform proudly and were a perfect example of what makes our Marine Corps great -- its people!”

GySgt Holley is being remembered by others as an innovator, an outgoing man who saw the silver lining in everything. He grew up in a military family, his father served 21 years in the U.S. Air Force before settling in Dayton, Ohio for a civilian job.

He is survived by wife Kasey, a 7 yr old son, his parents and a sister.

 

Moving video.

RIP Gunny