TACOMA, Wash. — The U.S. Army has publicly identified four soldiers who tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash on Wednesday, which occurred near a military installation in Washington state. For more details, you can read the full story here.
The deceased have been named as Chief Warrant Officers Andrew Cully and Andrew Kraus, along with Sergeants Donavon Scott and Jadalyn Good, according to a statement issued by the Army on Monday.
Andrew Cully, aged 35, hailed from Sparta, Missouri. Andrew Kraus, 39, was from Sanibel, Florida. Donavon Scott, who was 25, was based out of Tacoma, Washington, while 23-year-old Jadalyn Good was from Mount Vernon, Washington.
The helicopter was engaged in a standard flight training exercise west of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, as confirmed by the U.S. Army Special Operations Command.
This facility is located approximately 10 miles south of Tacoma and is overseen by the U.S. Army Joint Base Headquarters.
The inquiry into the cause of the crash is currently ongoing. At the time of the incident, weather conditions were mostly clear with gentle southern breezes, according to the National Weather Service.
The soldiers were described as embodying the spirit and core values of the Army by Col. Stephen Smith in the statement, exemplifying steadfast dedication and excellence.
They were members of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, known for conducting nighttime missions, and their MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter went down around 9 p.m.
The regiment’s primary role involves organizing, equipping, and deploying Army special operations aviation assets globally, as noted on the Army’s official web page.
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Known informally as the “Night Stalkers,” these soldiers are highly regarded for their expertise in nighttime operations. As indicated on the Army’s website, they are exceptionally trained to undertake the toughest missions in diverse environments worldwide, both during the day and night, with unmatched precision.
This incident marks the second fatal crash involving this esteemed unit in recent years.
Earlier in 2023, five Army special operations personnel died in a helicopter crash in the Eastern Mediterranean during an air refueling operation that was part of their training. All of these individuals were affiliated with the Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Additionally, in March 2024, two personnel from the Joint Base Lewis-McChord SOAR unit were injured when their Apache helicopter crashed during a routine training exercise at the base.
