Family of Arizona Marine killed in helicopter crash starts nonprofit to help other military families

CHANDLER, AZ (AZFamily) — It’s been four months since 23-year-old Alec Langen was killed along with four crew members in a military helicopter crash near San Diego. Langen spent part of his childhood growing up in Chandler.

Now, his parents are setting up a new nonprofit to help military families through the same kind of grief.

Alec’s family says he loved serving our country. While going through this grief, they came up with what they’re calling ‘Running for Alec.’

It’s a way to honor their son and his crew’s legacy, wearing bright orange shirts and running 5Ks, 10Ks and even half marathons in the cities Alec was stationed in or loved.

“The first two months our world stopped turning so we need to figure out how to turn again and that’s the reason we did this because we need to run off our grief. We need to start having our world turn again,” Alec’s mom, Caryn, said.

Caryn and Steve Langen remember that call from the Marine Corps that changed their life.

“They let us know his duty status was unknown, that we know the helicopter went down, but we don’t have any word on the crew,” Alec’s dad, Steve, said.

Alec was among five Marines killed in a helicopter crash on February 6 in San Diego.

“This was in his DNA to do, there was no stopping him,” Steve said.

Alec got married one month before the crash. He loved his family and even followed in his father’s footsteps.

“I did the exact same job in the same helicopter from 86 to 95,” Steve said. “Ever since he was three years old, he would see pictures of me and say I want to do what daddy does.”

Through this grief came the hope of helping other families in similar situations. Caryn and Steve say that between merchandise or donations, they are most excited about the 5Ks or 10K runs in Alec’s honor, which aim to bring people together.

“That’s really what we’re trying to achieve is to help somebody else,” Caryn said. “If they have that grief to get out and run with us with us.”

The Langens say this nonprofit is something Alec would be proud of.

“Steve received an email from a prior Marine that said he needed a reason to get off the couch and seeing our story, he’s now joining us for the run,” Caryn said. “We never want to forget our son or the Tiger 43 crew for what they sacrificed for us.”

Their first run is this Saturday at the Marine Corps Air Station in San Diego. This year, they will also go to Pensacola and even Germany and London, both places Alec wanted to travel to.

For more information and how to donate or get involved, click here.

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