Marine killed in San Diego crash was from Comstock Park

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — One of the U.S. Marines killed in a helicopter crash outside of San Diego earlier this week was from West Michigan.

The U.S. military identified him as Capt. Miguel Nava, 28. He left behind a wife and 6-month-old son.

Nava grew up in Comstock Park, where his mother was a longtime employee of Comstock Public Schools and where he graduated from high school in 2013. The school district said that Nava was a member of the student council and played on the football and soccer teams. He won district and regional championships with the football team in 2011 and 2012. He was an all-conference soccer player and part of the 2012 district championship team.

“He was just so compassionate and so determined to help others out,” Comstock Park High School Assistant Principal Tony Petkus recalled Nava. “We did some staff reflections this week and the stories of him going into classrooms on his own, on his own time, both in the high school and in the elementary school, mentoring some of our young kiddos. They thought he was the greatest because he was so tall. The stories were just endless of who he was.”

Petkus said Nava always wanted to become a pilot. He attended the U.S. Naval Academy and graduated in 2017. Nava also returned to Comstock Park schools after graduation to speak with students.

“Last year spring break, I was down in Pensacola (Florida) and trying to work on the Blue Angels and he (Nava) was determined to try and get me onto the base to see the Blue Angels for my kids,” Petkus said. “We were in constant communication. That’s what he would do. He was just so compassionate and determined to help others out.”

A moment of silence was held before a Comstock Park basketball game Friday to remember Nava.

“There is no greater example of what it means to be a Panther than Miguel,” the school district said in a statement. “Miguel will be remembered as an outstanding son, brother, husband, and father! We ask that you please keep his parents Lisa and Javier, his brother Nikolas, a CP graduate of 2016, and his wife Ryann and son Luca in your thoughts and prayers.”

“I offered my condolences and assistance to (Nava’s) family after hearing the news, and join our community and nation in lifting his loved ones in prayer,” U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Grand Rapids, said on social media.

State Sen. Mark Huizenga, R-Walker, posted on Facebook saying, “My wife and I mourn the loss of Comstock Park native, U. S. Marine Captain Miguel Nava. We send our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to his family and friends. His service and sacrifice will not be forgotten.”

You can make a donation in memory of Nava here, according to Petkus. The campaign says all donations will go to Nava’s wife and son.

5 Marines confirmed dead after helicopter crash outside San Diego

The Marines were reported missing on Wednesday after their aircraft did not show up at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego. The CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter left from Creech Air Force Base, northwest of Las Vegas, on Tuesday. The last area where the helicopter was reported was southeast of Pine Valley, about 35 miles east of their destination.

Search and rescue crews found the aircraft Wednesday morning and the Marines were confirmed dead on Thursday.

Marine Corps confirms the worst: All 5 troops killed in helicopter crash in California mountains

San Diego County was hit by heavy rainfall during a historic storm this week. Marines fly the CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter in the “most challenging environments you can think of,” Timothy Loranger, a former Marine Corps aircraft mechanic and now civilian pilot and lawyer who specializes in aviation crashes, told the Associated Press.

Officials said the flight was part of routine training.

The military listed Nava as from Traverse City.

—News 8’s Taylor Morris contributed to this report.

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