ARIZONA, USA — Sitting in the back of a military helicopter, mask removed briefly, Marine Sgt. Alec Langen smiles and winks at the camera.
It's where the 23-year-old crew chief wanted to be.
"If there was a way that he wanted to go, if you could choose, that would be it, just because that was what he loved to do," Steve Langen, Sgt. Alec Langen's dad, said.
Sgt. Alec Langen was among five Marines killed when in early February when their CH-53E helicopter crashed while on a routine training flight from Creech Air Force Base in Nevada back to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.
All five Marines killed were in their 20s. The decorated Marines were assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, known as the Fighting Tigers, and were based at Miramar in San Diego.
Sgt. Alec Langen followed his father's footsteps to become a crew chief in the Marines.
"He strived to be the best at what he was, and he was, he was the most qualified in the shop for being a crew chief. And that was his goal. That was his passion," Steve Langen said.
That passion earned Langen several decorations including the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal which is awarded for meritorious service or achievement.
"Alec has such an impact on people that we're getting to learn that now we're getting to learn who he was, and that's what's driven us to do what we're doing," Caryn Langen, Sgt. Alec Langen's mother said.
Now, through their grief the Langens have started a non-profit, Running 4 Alec, to help raise funds to donate back to organizations helping military families deal with loss like they have.
The goal: Keep their son's legacy, and the legacy of the Tiger 43 crew alive.
But, neither of them are runners. Neither was Sgt. Alec Langen.
"I think that he would find that very honorable and he would be very appreciative of that, yes," Caryn Langen said. "But he would also think it was hilarious that we're running."
The Langens are running their first race this Saturday at Miramar. They're planning several more races at places their son was stationed, places he loved and places he wanted to go.
"I feel connected to him in some way," Steve Langen said. "It's helped us in more ways than anything."
"It's helped our grief, it's helped our physical pain of not having him with us," Caryn Langen said.
Wanting others to know the story of his life beyond a single moment.
"His love of life, his love of family, his love of flying, his just - his general just love of everything," Steve Langen said. "That he was just a great guy."
Hoping others too take away a message of making the most out of life today.
"I would love to go back and trade places with my son," Steve Langen said. "If I could just have him walk through the door one more time. It's not going to happen."
"Tomorrow was never promised," Caryn Langen said. "We just have to promise to make sure that we live for today."
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