Nathan McHone

Capt. Nathan R. McHone,29, died Thursday, January 19, 2012 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Born April 24, 1982, he was the son of Ronald and Sylvia (nee Smith) McHone.

In 2005, Nathan McHone was commissioned to the Marine Corps and reported to Basic School in Quantico, Va. After that, he went to Naval Aviation Command in Pensacola, Fla., as an entry-level student. He served there for two years, earning in 2007 the rank of first lieutenant.

He then was assigned to Heavy Marine Helicopter Training-302 squadron, Marine Aircraft Group-29, as a student pilot in Jacksonville, N.C. He served there for six months.

Nathan McHone then reported for duty with MAG-24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, as a Basic CH-53 pilot. He continued to advance as a Marine and eventually was promoted to the rank of captain. In October 2009, Nathan McHone transferred to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron-363, Marine Aircraft Group-24, 1st MAW, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

He was awarded two Air Medals, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and NATO Medal.

Nathan is survived by his parents; his brother Ben (Kayc) of Syracuse, NY; his sister Stephanie (Kwadwo) Oduro of St. Louis, MO; a niece, Harper McHone; paternal grandparents Robert and Irene McHone; uncles, Sid (Mary) Smith, Gary (Debbie) McHone, Kevin (Holly) McHone, and Joe (Lydia) McHone; and aunt Lola Smith.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Grant and Helen Smith.

The visitation will be 3-9pm, Saturday, January 28 at Davenport Family Funeral Home, 419 E Terra Cotta Ave (IL Rt. 176), Crystal Lake. The funeral service will be held at 2pm, Sunday, January 29 at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 932 S McHenry Ave., Crystal Lake. Overflow parking for the service will be available at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 1023 McHenry Ave., Crystal Lake. Interment will be in Windridge Memorial Park Cemetery, Cary.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to The Capt. Nathan R. McHone Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Crystal Lake Bank & Trust, 5100 Northwest Hwy, Crystal Lake IL 60014, or to the United Services Organizations (USO), 211 Wilson Blvd, Ste 1200, Arlington VA 22201, www.uso.org/donate/, or to Friends of the Fallen, PO Box 2081, Dover Air Force Base, DE 19902.

---