Basking Ridge Marine Among Helicopter Crash Victims

A Basking Ridge Marine has been identified as one of seven Marines who died in a helicopter crash in Florida last week.

Capt. Stanford H. Shaw, III, 31, from Basking Ridge, New Jersey, died after a United States Army UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter crashed near Eglin, Florida, at approximately 8:30 p.m. on March 10, according to the United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC). Shaw served as a team commander within the U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operational Command.

Shaw was the recipient of numerous awards during his military tenure, including the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Sea Service Deployment ribbon (with two stars), according to MARSOC.

Flags were flown at half mast and a moment of silence was held at Ridge High School today in remembrance of Shaw, according to Bernards Township School District Superintendent Nick Markarian. “Our prayers and sympathy go out to the Shaw family,” Markarian said in an email. Shaw was a 2002 graduate of Ridge High School.

The other Marine victims in the helicopter crash include: Master Sgt. Thomas A. Saunders, 33, from Williamsburg, Virginia; Staff Sgt. Marcus S. Bawol, 26, from Warren, Michigan; Staff Sgt. Trevor P. Blaylock, 29, from Lake Orion, Michigan; Staff Sgt. Liam A. Flynn, 33, from Queens, New York; Staff Sgt. Kerry M. Kemp, 27, from Port Washington, Wisconsin; Staff Sgt. Andrew C. Seif, 26, from Holland, Michigan.

(Photo courtesy of the United States Marine Corps)