1 of 4 | Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Cully, was from Sparta, Mo., and was a pilot. He was deployed as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve and Operation Swift Resolve. File Photo courtesy of the Department of Defense
Sept. 22 (UPI) — The U.S. Defense Department on Monday identified four soldiers who died last week in a helicopter crash during routine training.
The four U.S. Army service members were Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Cully, 35; Sgt. Jadalyn Good, 23; Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Kraus, 39; and Sgt. Donavon Scott, 25. Good and Scott were from Washington, while Cully was from Missouri and Kraus was of Florida.
Col. Stephen Smith said the four service members were from the 4th Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. The regiment is headquartered at Fort Campbell in Kentucky and often operates at night, earning members the “Night Stalkers” nickname.
“These exceptional warriors … embodied the unwavering dedication, selflessness and excellence that define the very spirit of the Army and Army Special Operations,” he said.
“Their service to our nation will forever be etched in our hearts and in the legacy of the Night Stalkers. These heroes were not only elite professionals but also cherished teammates, friends and family members whose absence leaves an immeasurable void.”
The four special operations soldiers were aboard an MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter that crashed Wednesday in Washington. The aircraft went down in a rural location about 40 miles west of Joint Base Lewis-McChord — about 50 miles south of Seattle — and caused a 1-acre fire that hampered rescue efforts.