Marines open trust fund for crash victims' families

A trust fund for families of the seven U.S. Marines who died Wednesday in a plane crash in Pakistan has been established, a Cape Girardeau relative of one of the victims said.

The trust fund will be administered by the Marine Air Federal Credit Union in San Dimas, Calif., for the family members of the soldiers, said Bill Harkey, father-in-law of Marine Capt. Daniel McCollum, who died in the crash.

Harkey and his wife, Jenny, have been in San Diego with their daughter, Jennifer, since Thursday. Jennifer McCollum is pregnant with her first child, due July 4.

"People out here have been great," Harkey said Saturday. "Everybody is sending food and flowers to our daughter."

He said his daughter is "holding up well" and made sandwiches for another group of Marines departing San Diego and saw them off at the airport.

The Harkeys will attend a special memorial service for the seven fallen Marines Thursday in the base theater at the Marine Corps' Miramar Air Station.

In Afghanistan, about 100 Marines gathered Saturday at the Kandahar air base to pay tribute to their seven comrades.

Anyone wishing to donate to the trust fund may send a contribution to: Marine Air Federal Credit Union, ABA No. 122-04-12-19, 924 Overland Court, San Dimas, Calif., 91773. Specify that the contribution is for "Account of Marine Air Federal Credit Union 322-8196-3, for credit to the V MGR-352, account No. 601549007 Sh TYPE 11."