The US military has identified the five Army special operations soldiers who were killed when their helicopter crashed in the Mediterranean Sea on Friday.
The Department of Defense identified the dead as Chief Warrant Officer 3 Stephen R Dwyer, 38, of Clarksville, Tennessee; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Shane M Barnes, 34, of Sacramento, California; Staff Sgt. Tanner W Grone, 26, of Gorham, Sgt. New Hampshire; Andrew Southard, 27, of Apache Junction, Arizona; and Sgt. Cade M Wolfe, 24, of Mankato, Minnesota.
The crew is part of the Army’s Special Operations Command and is attached to the 1st Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), known as the Night Stalkers.
The MH-60 Blackhawk was conducting aerial refueling exercises when the helicopter “experienced an in-flight emergency that resulted in a crash,” the DoD said in a statement Monday.
The plane crashed off the coast of Cyprus, three US officials told the New York Times.
The Army transport team moved the evacuation case containing the body of Sgt. Andrew P. Southard at Dover Air Force Base, Del., on Nov. 14, 2023. AP
“There are no indications that the crash was caused by enemy/hostile action,” the DoD shared.
“Our thoughts and prayers remain with the bereaved families.”
The Pentagon shared that the Army Combat Readiness Center is investigating the cause of the crash over Veterans Day weekend.
President Biden issued a statement on Sunday mourning the loss of the five elite soldiers, saying their “courage and selflessness every day are a lasting testament to what is best in our country.”
Soldiers salute the remains of Army Staff Sgt. Tanner W. Grone and Army Sgt. Andrew P. Southard at Dover Air Force Base on Nov. 14, 2023, in Dover, Delaware.Getty Images
“Jill and I pray for the families and friends who have lost loved ones—a piece of their soul. Our entire country shares their grief,” added the Commander-in-Chief.
Lt. Gen. Jonathan Braga, commander of the Army’s Special Operations Command, said the fallen soldier “came from a rare patriotic family with deep military service ties spanning multiple generations and formations.”
“Every loss is difficult, but in this case, service to the Nation is truly a family business and it is difficult to express the amount of grief we all feel right now.”
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Stephen R. Dwyer, of Clarksville, Tenn. AP
Dwyer, a 2009 West Point graduate and the most senior soldier on the plane, served as the MH-60M pilot, mission planner and instructor pilot.
Having deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, Dwyer’s awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Air Medal with Combat device, and numerous personal, service and campaign awards.
Barnes, another Black Hawk pilot, graduated from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, in 2011 before joining the Army.
Additionally, having deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, Barnes’ awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor device (added for heroism in combat) and the Air Medal with Combat device, among other campaign awards.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Shane M. Barnes, of Sacramento, Calif. AP Staff Sgt. Tanner W. Grone, of Gorham, NH AP
Grone, an MH-60M crew chief, enlisted in the Army in 2017 as a UH-60 repairman.
He has also been deployed to Afghanistan and several times to Iraq.
During his service, Grone was awarded the Air Medal with Combat Device, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal with Combat Device, among many other awards.
Sgt. Cade M. Wolfe, of Mankato, Minn. AP Sgt. Andrew P. Southard, of Apache Junction, Ariz.AP
Southard, also an MH-60M crew chief, enlisted in the Army in 2015 as a UH-60 repairman.
His first deployment was a 13-month rotation to Task Force Sinai to support ongoing peacekeeping operations.
He was also deployed to Afghanistan and was awarded two Army Commendation medals and an Army Achievement medal, among other citations.
Wolfe joined the Army in 2018 as a UH-60 repairman and served as an MH-60M crew chief.
His awards and decorations include two Army Commendation medals and an Army Achievement medal.
With Postal wire
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
