Update:
Cpl. Sara A. Medina’s Marine Corps portfolio includes more than 400 photographs covering various Marine Corps relief efforts, missions, exercises and a score of photographs on the Marine Corps support of President Obama’s trip to and visit to Australia to attend the G-20 Leaders Summit in 2014 (below).
Her entire portfolio can be viewed here.
The Marine Corps Times adds the following to Cpl. Medina’s background:
Medina enlisted in the Marine Corps on Nov. 29, 2010. Before deploying to Nepal, she had photographed Marines in South Korea, the Philippines, Japan, Australia and the U.S.
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Her awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal and the Korean Defense Service Medal
U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey, with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 265, Marine Aircraft Group 36 re-fuels from C-130J Super Hercules Philippines, Nov. 8, 2014. President Barack Obama will be transported in Marine One VH-3D Sea King with Marine Helicopter Squadron 1 escorted by MV-22B Ospreys with VMM-265 during G20 Leaders’ Summit 2014. MV-22B Ospreys with VMM-265 fly along with C-130J Super Hercules with Marine Aerial Transport Squadron 152 providing them with fuel to fly long distances flying from Okinawa, Japan to Brisbane, Australia, making stops in Pampanga, Philippines and Darwin, Australia a total of 4,700 miles traveled. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by MCIPAC Combat Camera Cpl. Sara A. Medina)
U.S. Marine Corps C-130J Super Hercules with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 152, sits on the flight line after arriving to Darwin, Australia, Nov. 8, 2014. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by MCIPAC Combat Camera Cpl. Sara A. Medina)
U.S. President Barack Obama waves at the crowd as he boards Air Force One to depart Australia after taking part in G20 Leaders’ Summit 2014 at Royal Australian Air Force Base, Amberley, Australia, Nov. 16, 2014. The President was transported in Marine One VH-3D Sea King with Marine Helicopter Squadron One…(U.S. Marine Corps photo by MCIPAC Combat Camera Cpl. Sara A. Medina)
Original Post:
One of the Marines killed in the helicopter crash in the mountains northeast of Nepal’s capital was Cpl. Sara A. Medina, a combat photographer with Marine Corps Installations Pacific, Okinawa, Japan, and a native of Illinois.
Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner said this about her:
“Cpl. Sara Medina made the ultimate sacrifice while assisting the people of Nepal during their time of crisis, and her death is a loss for the State of Illinois and the nation. Cpl. Medina’s courage and dedication to serving and protecting others makes her a role model for all of us. She will never be forgotten. Diana and I extend our deepest sympathies to her family, and the families of her fellow fallen comrades, during this time of mourning.”
NBCChicago.com added that Cpl. Medina was from suburban Aurora and a graduate of East Aurora High School.
At the top and below are some photographs taken by the Marine during the Nepal relief missions just before her death.
U.S. and Nepalese personnel discuss flight plans during JTF-505 humanitarian assistance and disaster relief at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, Nepal, May 7, 2015. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Sara A. Medina
Nepali and Singaporean service members unload humanitarian assistance supplies from a vehicle during earthquake relief efforts at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, Nepal, May 10, 2015. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Sara A. Medina
Read what it is like “working as a combat photographer in the US Marines” by another woman Marine combat photorapher here
Lead photo:
Nepali soldiers unload a Singapore air force C-130 Hercules carrying humanitarian aid intended for earthquake relief efforts May 10, 2015, at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, Nepal. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Sara A. Medina
The author is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and a writer.