Marine Cpl. Joey Logan, who went to boot camp at MCRD San Diego, lost his life in an Afghanistan helicopter crash in January 2012. His parents are planning to build a refuge for returning veterans in Montana, to honor their son's memory.
Logan was just 22 when he was killed, along with five other Marines, when their CH-53 helicopter went down in Helmand province.
All six Marines were assigned to Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force at Kaneohe Bay in Hawaii.
That squadron is nicknamed "The Lucky Red Lions." And so, Joey's parents are creating what they're calling the Red Lions Project.
Tom and Debi Logan told The Missoulian that to honor their son, they plan to build six cabins (one for each of the Marines killed in the helicopter crash) for veterans returning from combat.
The veterans and their families will be able to stay at the cabins, free of charge. Debi told The Missoulian:
“You’ve got people who just need to unwind when they come back. That’s what we’re doing. We’re trying to get them back with the family, their kids, their nurse — whoever. It’s just a place to get away.”
The couple will build the cabins not far from the spot in western Montana Joey Logan hoped to live after he left the service.
