StarBulletin.com

Two Schofield soldiers killed in helicopter crash in Iraq


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POSTED: Wednesday, November 11, 2009


Two Schofield Barracks aviators were killed Sunday when their 0H-58 Kiowa helicopter crashed in Iraq.

The Pentagon identified the 25th Infantry Division soldiers as Chief Warrant Officer Mathew C. Heffelfinger, 29, of Kimberly, Idaho; and Chief Warrant Officer Earl R. Scott III, 24, of Jacksonville, Fla.

The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of the two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The two-seat observation helicopter crashed  near Tikrit.

 The soldiers  were assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment of 25th Aviation Brigade Combat Team.

The Hammerhead Brigade deployed to Iraq last month for a 12-month tour.

On May 27, the brigade lost two pilots who were undergoing a routine training mission at their home base at Wheeler Army Airfield when their Kiowa Warrior helicopter crashed.

Killed were Chief Warrant Officer Jonathan Millwards, 28, and Chief Warrant Officer Stanley Hepfner.