A Jacksonville Marine was among 16 military members killed when an air tanker crashed in Mississippi this week.
The KC-130 air tanker was carrying members of an elite Marine special operations unit to Arizona for training when it crashed in a soybean field in Itta Bena Monday.
Joseph Murray of Jacksonville was among fifteen Marines and one Navy sailor killed, his pastor confirmed to Action News Jax.
CONFIRMED: one of the Marines killed in the Mississippi plane crash Monday was from Jacksonville. Joseph Murray was a husband; father of 4.
— Erica Simon (@EricaOnABC13) July 12, 2017
The plane was based at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York. Officials said some of those killed were from the base.
Officials said six of the Marines and the sailor were from an elite Marine Raider battalion at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
They were headed to Yuma, Arizona for pre-deployment training.
The crash was the deadliest Marine crash in the U.S. or abroad since 2005.
The plane suffered a catastrophic failure at 20,000 feet and plunged out of the sky.
Murray was married with four small children, Donny Hutto, pastor at Atlantic Beach Assembly of God, told Action News Jax.
Murray says his son and wife were inseparable. "When he wasn't with the Marines, he was with Gayle." pic.twitter.com/gU7SdTeWXc
— Erica Simon (@EricaOnABC13) July 12, 2017
Murray's twins just turned 1 year old and he had two other children, ages 3 and 5.
Hutto said Murray's father was retired military, and that Murray had been attending Atlantic Beach Assembly of God since he was 10 years old.
2) Just got off the phone with Murray's home church. He was active in youth group growing up and is described is an "outstanding man."
— Erica Simon (@EricaOnABC13) July 12, 2017
Murray was never stationed in Jacksonville. He moved to North Carolina to join the Marines, Hutto said.
“He went all in with the Marines, it’s like he found his passion,” Hutto said.
Hutto said the church family is rallying around Murray's family. Funeral arrangements are pending.
Action News Jax reporter Erica Bennett is working to learn more about Murray and his life in Jacksonville.
Follow her on Twitter at @EricaANjax and watch Action News Jax for the latest details.
Terry Murray says his son was a man of God who sung hymns/praise and worship everywhere he went. Marines would go to him for prayer. pic.twitter.com/398SkEoWfV
— Erica Simon (@EricaOnABC13) July 12, 2017
Murray had 3 boys and 1 girl (5 years-old, 3 years-old and a set of 1 year-old twins).
— Erica Simon (@EricaOnABC13) July 12, 2017
"It's hard to talk about Joseph without talking about his family."
— Erica Simon (@EricaOnABC13) July 12, 2017
3) Murray moved to North Carolina years ago to join the Marines, but his parents still live here.
— Erica Simon (@EricaOnABC13) July 12, 2017
Murray was a Special Operations Marine. Nothing about his job was easy.
— Erica Simon (@EricaOnABC13) July 12, 2017
4) I can't imagine the grief Murray's wife is feeling. Among their kids are 1 year-old twins, who will never get to grow up with their Dad.
— Erica Simon (@EricaOnABC13) July 12, 2017
Military officials release new details about KC-130 plane crash that killed 16 military members. A Jacksonville Marine was among those killed in the deadliest Marine crash since 2005: http://bit.ly/2sQHopk
Posted by Action News Jax on Wednesday, July 12, 2017
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