Associated Press
SPOKANE — Family and friends gathered Tuesday to remember the 21-year-old Marine who wasn’t supposed to be aboard the military plane that crashed last week in Pakistan.
Marine Sgt. Nathan Hays had volunteered to fill in for a fellow flight mechanic aboard the KC-130 that crashed, killing him and six others.
That man’s parents recently called Hays’ parents to say thank you and express their grief.
"Nathan’s family and his parents, they don’t hold any hard feelings," said Pat Milliron, Nathan’s great-uncle. "He was doing his duty. It was like him to volunteer."
Hays normally flew on C-130s. When his family heard about the Jan. 9 crash, they called the Marines and were told it was not likely Hays was on board. He was.
The crash resulted in the single largest loss of American life since the United States began its campaign against the Taliban and al-Qaida in Afghanistan.
Hundreds of friends mourned with about 150 family members here for the service at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. The family asked the media to stay away from the private service, attended by friends from the community of Wilbur, where Hays grew up, as well as Boy Scouts and the Navy and Marines.
On Thursday, at least 30 members of the family plan to be at the Naval Air Station in Miramar, Calif., for a national memorial service honoring all seven of the crew members who died in the crash.
Hays was born Dec. 14, 1980, in Libby, Mont., the middle child of Kim and Jim Hays. In addition to his parents, he is survived by a brother, Patrick, and sister, Kassi.
Associated Press
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