SAN DIEGO, Calif. (November 2, 2009)—Crews have ended the search off the California coast for nine people including a Central Texas man missing since a midair collision Thursday between a U.S. Coast Guard C-130 Hercules and a U.S. Marine Corps AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopter.

Among those board the C-130 was Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Danny Kreder II, 22, of Elm Mott, who served as an aviation technician, dropmaster and sensor system operator, the Coast Guard said.

Kreder, who’s married, graduated from Connally High School in 2005.

Coast Guard Rear Adm. Joseph Castillo said Saturday there’s still a chance of finding survivors because the missing crewmembers could have been wearing dry suits and were in excellent physical condition.

But Sunday, after a 63-hour effort that covered more than 644 square miles of the Pacific, the search was suspended.

"Continuous search coverage was provided from the time of the crash until suspension," said Capt. Thomas Farris, commanding officer of Sector San Diego.

"Coast Guard assets will stay on scene with Navy assets to assist in salvage efforts. A joint mishap analysis board consisting of Coast Guard and Marine Corps members will be convened to investigate the incident."

There were seven people aboard the Coast Guard plane and the helicopter had a two-person crew.

A Marine Corps spokesman said the attack helicopter was one of four that were flying in formation to deliver Marines to San Clemente Island for training.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the collision occurred minutes after control of the Coast Guard C-130 was handed off from FAA controllers to military air controllers.

Coast Guard C-130 Crewmembers
(Source: U.S. Coast Guard)

Lt. Cmdr. Che J. Barnes, age 35, Capay, Calif., Aircraft Commander.
Job Description: Flight Safety Officer, C-130 Aircraft Commander, and Operations Duty Officer (ODO)
Age: 35
Hometown: Capay, Calif.
Gender: Male
Relationship: Single
Awards/Accolades include: 2009 CDR Elmer F. Stone Awardee, Coast Guard (CG) Commendation Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, three CG Achievement Medals, six Meritorious Unit Commendations, CG Meritorious Team Commendation, two Commandant’s Letter of Commendations, CG E Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, two CG Special Operations Ribbons, CG Presidential Unit Citation, Dept. of Transportation (DOT) 9-11 Ribbon.

Lt. Adam W. Bryant, age 28, Crewe, Va., Co-Pilot.
Job Description: C-130 Pilot, Public Affairs Officer and ODO
Age: 28
Hometown: Crewe, Va.
Gender: Male
Relationship: Single
Awards/Accolades include: Armed Forces Service Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, CG Presidential Unit Citation, Commandant’s Letter of Commendation, CG E Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, CG Special Operations Service Ribbon, CG Presidential Unit Citation, DOT 9-11 Ribbon.

Chief Petty Officer John F. Seidman, age 43, Stockton, Calif., Flight Engineer.
Job Description: Aviation Maintenance Technician, Shop Chief of Engine/Prop Shop, Qualified C-130 Flight Engineer, and ODO
Age: 43
Hometown: Stockton, Calif.
Gender: Male
Relationship: Married, no children
Awards/Accolades include: CG Commendation Medal, Global War On Terror Service Medal, Achievement Medal, six CG Unit Commendations, four CG Meritorious Unit Commendations, Bicentennial Unit Commendation, CG Rifle Marksman Ribbon, two CG Meritorious Team Commendations, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, five CG Special Operations Service Ribbons, CG Presidential Unit Citation, Commandant’s Letter of Commendation, two National Defense Service Medals, Humanitarian Service Medal, CG Special Operations Service Ribbon, CG Presidential Unit Citation, DOT 9-11 Ribbon, seven Good Conduct Medals, and a DOT Outstanding Unit Award.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Carl P. Grigonis, age 35, Mayfield Heights, Ohio, Navigator.
Job Description: Aviation Electronics Technician, Qualified C-130 Flight Navigator
Age: 35
Hometown: Mayfield Heights, Ohio
Gender: Male
Relationship: Married, with children
Awards/Accolades include: Global War On Terror Service Medal, Achievement Medal, two CG Unit Commendations, two CG Meritorious Unit Commendations, CG Pistol Marksman Ribbon, CG Meritorious Team Commendations, Commandant’s Letter of Commendation, National Defense Service Medals, CG Special Operations Service Ribbon, CG Presidential Unit Citation, DOT 9-11 Ribbon, three Good Conduct Medals.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Monica L. Beacham, age 29, Decaturville, Tenn., Radio Operator.
Job Description: Aviation Electronics Technician, Qualified C-130 Radioman, Navigator Trainee
Age: 29
Hometown: Decaturville, Tenn.
Gender: Female
Relationship: Married, with children
Awards/Accolades include: Global War Terror Service Medal, two CG Unit Commendations, two CG Meritorious Unit Commendations, two CG Meritorious Team Commendations, National Defense Service Medal, two Humanitarian Service Medals, CG Presidential Unit Citation, two CG Good Conduct Medals, and DOT 9-11 Ribbon.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason S. Moletzsky, age 26, Norristown, Pa., Air Crew.
Job Description: Aviation Maintenance Technician, Basic C-130 Air Crew.
Age: 26
Hometown: Norristown, Pa.
Gender: Male
Relationship: Single
Awards/Accolades include: Global War on Terror Service Medal, CG Achievement Medal, CG Meritorious Unit Commendation, CG Rifle Marksman Ribbon, CG Pistol Marksman Ribbon, CG Meritorious Team Commendation, two Commandant’s Letter of Commendations, National Defense Service Medal, two CG Special Operations Service Ribbons, CG Presidential Unit Citation, two CG Good Conduct Medals.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Danny R. Kreder II, age 22, Elm Mott, Texas, Drop Master.
Job Description: Aviation Maintenance Technician, Dropmaster, Sensor System Operator
Age: 22
Hometown: Elm Mott, Texas
Gender: Male
Relationship: Married, no children
Awards/Accolades include: Cutterman Insignia, CG Unit Commendation Award, Commandant’s Letter of Commendation, CG Presidential Unit Citation, CG Sea Service Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal.