Fourth Ohio Marine Identified In Deadly Chopper Crash

Cleveland-Area Man Killed In Desert Crash

CLEVELAND -- A fourth Marine from Ohio has been identified among the 31 victims of the Iraqi desert crash of a military helicopter, the Marine's father-in-law said on Friday.

The wife of Cpl. Timothy A. Knight, 22, of suburban Brooklyn, was informed of his death by Marine officers at her on-base home in Hawaii, said her father, Dean Delligatti of Brooklyn.

Knight had never seen the daughter born six months ago to his 22-year-old wife, Gina, according to Delligatti.

"He's never seen the baby, never held her," Delligatti said. "He was just talking to his wife saying he can't wait to get home to see her."

Delligatti said his daughter was holding up "as well as can be expected. She's over with the rest of the wives" at the Marine base in Hawaii.

The couple had been sweethearts at Brooklyn High School and got married in 2003. The flag outside the school was lowered to half-staff when administrators learned of Knight's death.

Knight attended the Polaris vocational school in suburban Middleburg Heights and wanted to get into law enforcement after serving in the Marines, Delligatti said.

"He was a goal-oriented person," Delligatti said.

No funeral arrangements have been made but Delligatti said he expected services to be held in Brooklyn.

The other Ohio victims have been identified by family members as Cpl. Richard Gilbert Jr., 28, of Dayton, Lance Cpl. Jonathan Edward Etterling, 22, of Wheelersburg in southern Ohio, and Sgt. Michael Finke Jr., 28, of Wadsworth west of Akron.

Their CH-53E Super Stallion crashed on Wednesday, killing 30 Marines and one Navy sailor aboard.