Veteran charged in Capitol riot once served in Marine One squadron, officials say

[demmiblue]

Source: WaPo

A Marine Corps veteran charged in the Capitol riot once served as a crew chief for the presidential helicopter squadron, a highly restrictive unit that requires a top-secret security clearance, officials said Wednesday.

John Daniel Andries, 35, of Piney Point, Md., was arrested last month and charged with two felonies, including violent entry and disorderly conduct on the Capitol grounds. He pleaded not guilty, WUSA9 reported. His attorney did not immediately return a request for comment.

Andries, who enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2004, joined Marine Helicopter Squadron One in 2006, officials said. His duties included aircraft maintenance as a presidential helicopter crew chief.

The squadron, also known as HMX-1, oversees presidential travel aircraft. The helicopter is known as Marine One when the president is aboard. The squadron’s other role is testing and evaluating helicopters.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2021/03/10/capitol-riot-marine-one/

[Drum]

1. Wow assigned to that detail just two years after enlistment?

I’d think that unusual, have no experiential basis for saying so. I’d love to hear the thoughts of those with more military insight.

[ToxMarz]

2. Maybe he had a lot of helicopter expertise before he enlisted?

[COL Mustard]

4. It Can Take That Long To Get A Yankee White Clearance

That's required to work around the President, VP or their families. He may have enlisted for that duty.

[lagomorph777]

15. Seems very likely he serviced Marine 1 for Obama.

[IronLionZion]

16. Do people apply for that role?

[COL Mustard]

22. You Used To Be Able To Enlist For Station Of Choice

At least in the Army. I think this guy is from Southern Maryland, so he may have enlisted for Quantico and gotten assigned from ther, but I’m guessing. Any Marines on here can shed more light than I can.

[obamanut2012]

13. No, not unusual

[COL Mustard]

3. I Used To Work With A Retired Marine Colonel

Who had commanded HMX-1 years earlier. He was a riot to work with, and had some hilarious stories. I don't think he'd have put up with this crap though.

[Deminpenn]

6. Had a military branch head, mustang,

who was a maintainer in HMX-1 but that was during the Reagan administration.

[joetheman]

5. How does this happen?

The Marines in my family are sickened.

[niyad]

17. Welcome to our DU family.

[Dawson Leery]

7. Why was he given this job just two years after enlistment?

[obamanut2012]

14. Why wouldn't he be???

[RotorHead]

8. "Andries left the Marine Corps as a lance corporal in November 2009..."

"...with no combat deployments, according to his service record. His assignment within the squadron covered the George W. Bush and Obama administrations."

11 years is a long time for political beliefs to metastasize.

It's entirely likely he had no strong political affiliations while serving.

[orleans]

10. rather than just saying the traditional welcome to du

i thought i'd personalize the usual greeting:
welcome to du. i really like kozy shack chocolate pudding lately. what's your favorite dessert?

[Crowman2009]

11. Well he must have f'ed up big time if he left as a Lance Cooley.

Was it a bunch of page 11's or a big chicken dinner? I sure as hell didn't have any problems reaching Corporal 2-3 years into my first term.

[littlemissmartypants]

9. Off Topic... I have a Marine One matchbook. It's one of my prized possessions.

It was given to me by one of the Secret Service in Henry Kissinger's detail.

Just one of my many brushes with greatness.

I have lived an interesting life.

[True Blue American]

12. Your life sounds like mine!

LOL

I once had breakfast with Bob Mackie at the Governor’s mansion. Have a picture to prove it. Asked him to say hello to Cher! He promised he would.

[littlemissmartypants]

18. Bob Mackie! Awesome! nt

[True Blue American]

19. He was introducing a new Fragrance.

Another, Oleg Cassini. Princess Grace old boy friend., ugly!

Biden signing the bill now!

[littlemissmartypants]

20. Reagan was my presidential brush with greatness* and

I met George Stephanopoulos in an elevator in DC. He's a seriously short and extremely confident dude.

Ah....memories!

*if that descriptor even applies with him.

[True Blue American]

21. Yes, George is short!

No one showed up to see Oleg so they had to push us to go have him autograph.where it went back into stock! No one knew who he was.