Posted on 04/07/2018 11:07:50 AM PDT by Kaslin
Fox News reports that two soldiers were killed as their helicopter crashed to the ground in Fort Campbell, Kentucky during a routine training practice Friday evening. This is now the fourth crash this week, killing seven members of the armed forces in a span of a few days.
The soldiers were members of the 101st Airborne Division. Accordingly, their names will not be released until 24 hours after next-of kin notification has been completed.
"This is a day of sadness for Fort Campbell and the 101st Airborne,” said Brig. Gen. Todd Royar,” acting senior commander of the 101st Airborne Division and Fort Campbell. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Families during this difficult time.”
This crash is the most recent in a string of fatalities to hit the United States military just this week. On Tuesday, four marines were killed during a training exercised in El Centro, California.
From Marine Corps Times:
Military officials have identified the four Marines killed in Tuesday’s CH-53 crash near El Centro, California.
Capt. Samuel A. Schultz, 1st Lt. Samuel D. Phillips, Gunnery Sgt. Derik R. Holley, Lance Cpl. Taylor J. Conrad, were killed on April 3 when the CH-53 Super Stallion they were operating crashed after leaving the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California.
The two pilots, Schultz and Phillips, and aircrew members, Holley and Conrad, were assigned to Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing based out of the air station in Miramar, California.
“The loss of our Marines weighs heavy on our hearts,” Maj. Gen. Mark Wise, commanding general of 3rd MAW, said in a command release. “Our priority is to provide support for our families and HMH-465 during this critical time.”
Then, on Wednesday an Air Force pilot crashed and died during another training accident. The third pilot, a Marine, crashed but was able to survive by ejecting himself before impact.
However, the director of the Pentagon's Joint Staff denied this indicated a trend, according to Fox News. “I would reject ‘wave’ and ‘crisis. We’re are going to look at each one in turn. Each one is tragic. We regret each one. We will look at them carefully. I am certainly not prepared to say that it’s a ‘wave’ of mishaps or some form of ‘crisis,'” said Marine Lt. Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie, Jr.
When I was a medic at Ft Rucker Alabama where they trained the chopper pilots, I was the results of several fatal helicopter crashes. Very grisly.
Pray for their souls and comfort for their families.
>>>101st Veteran here. Many have died in defense of freedom, it does not make it any easier. Praying for their families.
I live about three miles from Fort Campbell on the TN site, and helicopters fly daily over our area. Who knows that particular chopper might have. Anyway may the two soldiers RIP
101st Veteran here. Many have died in defense of freedom, it does not make it any easier. Praying for their families.
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My sentiments, exactly. 101st Nam Veteran here.
I wonder if the Democrats will tout Obama’s record of supporting the military during the 2018 campaign and promise to reinstate those policies if elected.
Military life / work is serious business. It is not an 8 - 5 job. Not anyone is qualified to be a member of OUR military. So when the politically badgered Generals / Admirals LOWER standards for political correctness sake, it not only threatens our national security but also risks the lives of everyone else in the military. I’m not saying that this is the case here but I am saying that we want and require only the best qualified in our military. I pray that God will watch over our military members and the souls of this killed in this accident rest in heaven. US Army ‘66 - ‘72,
RVN 67-68.
Lots of crashes lately. I wonder if some Middle Eastern diversity recruits have been told to leave out a bolt or wire.
There are no coincidences.
It is a crisis. The military could not possibly have removed itself from the Obama era completely. The transition takes time. It is a slow process.
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