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Dead soldiers identified Training is way of life
By Gregg K. Kakesako
Star-Bulletin
Six Schofield Barracks soldiers were killed and four were injured when two Army Black Hawk helicopters crashed last night at the Kahuku Military Training Reservation on Oahu's North Shore.The crash may be the Army's worst training accident here.
At a Pentagon news briefing in Washington today, Rear Adm. Craig Quigley said the two helicopters "somehow came in contact" with one another.
Quigley said all six died in one helicopter. He said it appeared the two choppers were not in the air at the same time. He did not elaborate and the cause is still under investigation.
Here are the six soldiers killed in the crashes of two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters yesterday near Sunset Beach: Dead soldiers identified
Seventeen soldiers, including four Army aviators, were involved in the crash, which happened at 7:40 p.m. during a night air assault exercise, said Maj. Cynthia Teramae, 25th Infantry Division spokeswoman.
The names of the victims have not been released, pending notification of their families.
Four soldiers are in stable condition at Tripler Army Medical Center today, Teramae said. The nature and extent of their injuries were not revealed by the Army.
This is the second major training accident involving the 25th Division in the past year.Last April, one soldier was killed and four others injured at the Pohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island while using a bangalore torpedo to blast a hole through barbed wire. At the time, that accident was said to be the worst in Schofield's history.
Following last night's accident, President Bush led U.S. service men and women in a moment of silent prayer.
"Just this morning, we were reminded of the risks of your duty and the sacrifices that you make," Bush told a gathering of Navy and Defense Department personnel at headquarters for the Allied Command Atlantic, U.S. Joint Forces Command in Norfolk, Va.
Wreckage in remote area
Also extending his condolences today was Gov. Ben Cayetano: "Hawaii is shocked and deeply saddened by the crash, which is especially painful in light of the collision between Ehime Maru and the USS Greeneville just three days ago off Diamond Head on Oahu's south shore. Our hearts go out to the loved ones of the six Hawaii-based soldiers who gave their lives in service to our country, and to the families of those injured."
The wrecked helicopters are on top of a hill in a remote area of the Koolau Mountains accessible only by four-wheel drive vehicles, near an area used by motocross riders.Photos of the crash site show that the tail rotor of one of the Black Hawks was severed.
Teramae said the aviation portions of the training exercise, dubbed "Lightning Thrust Warrior," were suspended. The annual North Shore training exercise, involving elements of the 25th Division's 2nd and 3rd Brigades and the 25th Aviation Brigade, will end Friday.
"Our hearts are very heavy tonight as we grieve with the families of these soldiers," Army spokeswoman Maj. Nancy Makowski said.
"Our focus is the needs of the families and making sure that the injured get the best possible care."
Crash in landing zone
Teramae said last night's accident occurred as 2nd and 3rd Brigade soldiers began a night air assault mission at 7:30 p.m. in one area of the Kahuku military range.Ten minutes later, the helicopters crashed in a landing zone in an area Teramae described as "rugged, but level."
Firefighters described the area as muddy because of yesterday's heavy rain.
Teramae said she didn't know the condition of the two helicopters, which are the military's major work horses supporting troops and equipment. More than 30 Black Hawks were supposed to transport 1,000 soldiers in last night's exercise.She also said she didn't know if the helicopters were landing or taking off when the accident occurred or how many soldiers were in each helicopter. Normally, each Black Hawk is crewed by a pilot, co-pilot and crew chief. Each can carry six to eight passengers.
Investigators will arrive today
Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Richard Soo said the two separate crash sites were several hundred yards apart. Firefighters used the jaws of life and ropes to remove soldiers from the helicopters.More will be known after investigators from the Army Safety Center at Fort Rucker, Ala., visit the site, Teramae said. They were to arrive later today.
Since the crash involved two military aircraft, the investigation will not involve the National Transportation Safety Board, NTSB spokesman Keith Holloway said.Three helicopter flights took the victims to Queen's Medical Center and Tripler last night. Initially, 11 soldiers were hospitalized. Seven were treated and released.
Soo said the crash report came in about 8:15 p.m. and that the accident had occurred on military property about one mile above the Kahuku Motocross Track parking lot.
District Chief Mandy Shiraki of city Emergency Medical Services said the search effort was hampered by difficult terrain, rainfall and darkness.
Harold Morse and Janine Tully contributed to this report.
Army accidents
Other recent Army accidents:
As part of the 25th Infantry Division's annual training cycle, one of its three infantry brigades is always preparing for advanced tactics at the Army's premiere training facility at Fort Polk, La. Training is way of
life for the troopsBy Gregg K. Kakesako
Star-BulletinThis year was the year for the 2nd Brigade, nicknamed "Warriors," to attend the Joint Readiness Training Center to prepare for peacekeeping missions.
The 2nd Brigade, commanded by Col. Andrew Twomey, was part of the 3,500 soldiers participating in exercise "Lightning Thrust Warrior," as a prelude to its training at Fort Polk.
Portraying the aggressor force in this exercise were soldiers of the division's 3rd Bronco Brigade, headed by Col. Roy Waggner. The nonlive-fire field training exercise began Feb. 5 and was supposed to end Friday.
Last night's exercise, during which two helicopters crashed, involved sending soldiers under the cover of night to begin to liberate a fictitious country. Later this week, the soldiers were to "free" a village.
Once this exercise was completed, the 2nd Brigade was supposed to train at Fort Polk for future peacekeeping roles.
In April 2002, the 25th Division will be sent on a real-world peacekeeping mission when Maj. Gen. James Dubik, its commander, heads a 2,500-member task force for six months in Bosnia.