By Stephanie Gaskell
The War Report

The Defense Department released the names of six Marines who were killed in a helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan on Thursday.

Killed were:

Capt. Daniel B. Bartle, 27, of Ferndale, Wash.

Capt. Nathan R. McHone, 29, of Crystal Lake, Ill.

MSgt. Travis W. Riddick, 40, of Centerville, Iowa.

Cpl. Jesse W. Stites, 23, of North Beach, Md.

Cpl. Kevin J. Reinhard, 25, of Colonia, N.J.

Cpl. Joseph D. Logan, 22, of Willis, Texas.

They were assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

A Taliban spokesman took credit for the crash, but NATO officials said there was no evidence of enemy fire.

“We’ve seen no indication at all that this was the result of hostile action,” a Pentagon spokesman said of the crash of the Marine CH-53D Sea Stallion, a single-rotor Vietnam-era aircraft.

Read more about the incident here:

(Photo:  Cpl. Kevin J. Reinhard. Courtesy photo.)