Enola in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Captain Bryan D. Willard, USMC
August 17, 1972 - February 17, 2006
| | East Pennsboro High School Class of 1990 | |
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., November 26, 2025
1. Captain Bryan D. Willard, USMC Memorial
[Photo of Captain Willard and Naval Aviator badge engraving]
[Also Bald Eagle, Marine Corps emblem, and CH-53 helicopter engravings]
Marine Captain Bryan D. Willard was one of eight U.S. Marines and two Air Force communication specialists who died in service to our country when two CH-53 helicopters crashed in the Gulf of Aden in Africa.
Captain Willard served two deployments in Iraq and flew rescue relief during hurricane Katrina before his assignment in Africa. He is remembered for his sense of humor, infectious laugh and for his selflessness and valor.
This memorial is dedicated to those who served their country in the [W]ar on [T]errorism and paid the ultimate price as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. We especially remember the Marines and Air Force specialists who were part of the Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464 based in Jacksonville, N.C.
CH-53 Condor 10
Capt. Bryan Willard, Pilot
1st Lt. Brandon Dronet, Co-Pilot
Lance Cpl. Nicholas Sovie Sgt. James Fordyce
Cpl. Matthieu Marcellus Sr. Airman Alecia Good
CH-53 Condor 11
Lance Cpl. Samuel Large Jr. Sgt. Donnie Leo Levens
Sgt. Jonathan Eric McColley Air Staff Sgt. Luis Melendez Sanchez
Erected by East Pennsboro Area High School.
Topics.
this page online
Location. 40° 17.79′ N, 76° 56.406′ W. Memorial is in Enola, Pennsylvania, in Cumberland County. It can be reached from West Shady Lane. Memorial is adjacent to the flag poles on the East Pennsboro Area High School campus. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 425 West Shady Lane, Enola PA 17025, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this memorial is in South-Central Pennsylvania and in Greater Harrisburg. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: War Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); East Pennsboro Honor Roll and Memorial (approx. Ό mile away); History of East Pennsboro Honor Roll and Memorial (approx. Ό mile away); Henszey's Wrought-Iron Bridge (approx. 0.7 miles away); Henszey's Wrought Iron Arch Bridge (approx. 0.7 miles away); Centennial Park (approx. 1.2 miles away); Old Harrisburg Academy / Dixon University Center (approx. 1.8 miles away); Harrisburg (approx. 2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Enola.
Regarding Captain Bryan D. Willard, USMC. The helicopters were part of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. It's unclear why the memorial states "Operation Enduring Freedom" (Afghanistan) while Capt Willard
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., November 26, 2025
2. Captain Bryan D. Willard, USMC Memorial
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., November 26, 2025
3. Captain Bryan D. Willard, USMC Memorial
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., November 26, 2025
4. Captain Bryan D. Willard, USMC Memorial
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., November 26, 2025
5. Captain Bryan D. Willard, USMC Memorial
Credits. This page was last revised on November 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 29, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 44 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 29, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
