The families of the two Marines killed Monday in a helicopter crash on Camp Pendleton are talking to the media for the first time about their loved ones. Capt. Jeffrey Bland, 37, and 1st Lt. Thomas Heitmann, 27 died when their AH-1 Cobra crashed in a training area of the base.
Bland's wife Heather and 7-month-old daughter Aliana live in San Diego. Heather's mother Jeanne McLennan spoke to television station 10News about the great love between her daughter and son-in-law. Heather was too grief-stricken to talk on camera.
Click here to watch the 10News story.
Bland's family also spoke with Illinois television station KWQC-TV. Bland's nephew Josh says he still expects to hear from his uncle, who was his personal hero:
" [I'm] still waiting to get that call, get that call saying 'I'm alright, it was an error, it was a reporting error.'"
Josh Bland also spoke with TV station WQAD-TV. You can watch that interview here:
