Murrieta residents honor fallen Marine killed in Nepal helicopter crash

MURRIETA, Calif. (KABC) —

Thousands of people lined the streets of Murrieta Wednesday night to pay Sgt. Eric Seaman their respects as he came home for the final time.

“I’m here to support a fellow Marine [who] lost his life,” said former U.S. Marine Carlos Garcia, who was injured in Afghanistan in 2010. “Coming out seeing everybody support what he did is just amazing. It doesn’t get any better than this.”

Seaman was one of six U.S. Marines killed in a helicopter crash while attempting to help the people of earthquake-ravaged Nepal last month.

The wreckage of the UH-1 “Huey” was found on May 15 following days of intense searching in the mountains northeast of Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital.

The helicopter went missing while delivering rice and tarps in Charikot on May 12, the area worst hit by a magnitude-7.3 earthquake that same day. It had dropped off supplies in one location and was en route to a second site when contact was lost.

Seaman had attended Elsinore High School in Wildomar. He enlisted in the Marines in 2009 and was based in Camp Pendleton. He was described by family and friends as a skilled athlete who wrestled and played baseball and football.

His funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday. He leaves behind a wife and two young children.