US Military names 5 troopers killed in japanese Mediterranean helicopter crash

The US Military has named 5 troopers killed in a helicopter crash within the japanese Mediterranean over the weekend.

5 Military aviation particular operations forces had been killed when their helicopter “skilled an in-flight emergency” throughout aerial refueling coaching that resulted within the crash over the Mediterranean sea.

US European Command stated search and rescue operations had been launched instantly following the crash, however not one of the troopers survived.

A US official beforehand advised CBS Information the 5 troopers had been particular operations forces who had been deployed to Cyprus in case an evacuation of Lebanon or Israel was ordered.

The US Division of Protection launched the identities of the 5 troopers, who had been all from the identical base in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

The 5 deceased males had been named as Sgt Cade Wolfe of Minnesota, 24, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Stephen Dwyer of Tennessee, 38, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Shane Barnes of California, 34, Workers Sgt Tanner Grone of New Hampshire, 26, and Sgt Andrew Southard of Arizona, 27.

The US Military is investigating the crash, however stated there are not any indications that the crash was attributable to enemy or hostile actions.

Further US forces had been deployed to the Center East in response to the 7 October assault on Israel by Hamas militants.

Two plane carriers – the Ford and the Eisenhower – together with supporting ships and dozens of plane have been deployed to the japanese Mediterranean because the assault.

Following information of the troopers’ deaths, tributes flooded in, with the US Military describing every of the 5 males as a “nationwide treasure” whose loss cuts deeply.

The commander of the Military Particular Operations Command, Lt Gen Jonathan Braga, stated the deceased troopers “hail from uncommon patriotic households with deep navy service ties that span a number of generations and formations.”

“That is devastating information that reverberates throughout all the Particular Operations neighborhood,” Mr Braga stated on Monday in a press release. “Each loss is hard, however on this case, service to the Nation is really a household enterprise and it’s onerous to precise the quantity of sorrow that all of us really feel proper now.”

President Joe Biden additionally paid tribute to the 5 troopers, saying their deaths illustrate how service operators “put their lives on the road for our nation day-after-day”.

He added that the crash occurred at first of the weekend commemorating Veterans Day. “[First lady] Jill [Biden] and I are praying for the households and associates who’ve misplaced a valuable cherished one – a bit of their soul. Our total nation shares their grief,” he stated.

In the meantime, Workers Sgt Grone’s dad and mom paid tribute to their son in a Fb put up, saying that they had been “past happy with what you grew to become and believed in. Thanks for all these wonderful years. Please watch over us. Love you and might’t categorical how a lot you can be missed.”

The incident marks the second time US Military personnel from Fort Campbell have died in a helicopter crash this yr.

In March, two HH-60 Black Hawk helicopters collided throughout a nighttime coaching flight, killing all 9 troopers aboard