CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - More details are emerging about the seven Marines who died along with four National Guard soldiers in a helicopter crash during a training mission off the Florida Panhandle on Tuesday.

They included Staff Sgt. Andrew Seif -- who just last week had been awarded one of the military's highest honors for heroism. It resulted from his efforts to save a mortally wounded friend in heavy gunfire in Afghanistan.

Four Louisiana National Guard soldiers and seven Marines were killed when the aircraft slammed into the water during a routine training mission in dense fog Tuesday.

The work to haul the shattered helicopter core from about 25 feet of water could take up to eight hours. A Coast Guard dive team is expected to help with the operation.

IMAGE: Department of Defense