Pentagon names 14 heroes killed in Iraq

STORY SUMMARY »

The Pentagon released last night the names of the 14 Schofield Barracks and Fort Lewis soldiers killed Wednesday in a helicopter crash in northern Iraq.

The soldiers died when the Black Hawk encountered mechanical problems shortly after picking up a night-raiding party.

Jason Hubbard of Clovis, Calif., was in a helicopter accompanying the one that crashed carrying his brother Nathan. A family spokesman said all indications point to Jason Hubbard being discharged because he is the lone remaining son. A third son, Jared, was killed in Iraq in 2004.

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The Hubbard family of Clovis, Calif., lost a second son -- Army Spec. Nathan Hubbard -- to the Iraq war in a Wednesday helicopter crash, but a third son was on the same mission.

Jason Hubbard was flying in a helicopter accompanying the aircraft that crashed, killing his brother, said Janet Stoll-Lee, who spoke on behalf of the Hubbard family last night.

The two brothers joined the Army in August 2005, serving together following the path of their brother, Marine Lance Cpl. Jared Hubbard, killed in November 2004 near Ramadi by a roadside bomb.

Stoll-Lee said Jason Hubbard is en route to Clovis on a 30-day leave. She said all indications point to him being discharged because he is the lone remain-ing son, but that has not been confirmed by the Army.

The Pentagon released last night the names of the 14 soldiers, 10 from Schofield Barracks, killed earlier this week in the helicopter crash in northern Iraq.

Also released were the names of the four crew members of the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, which was from Fort Lewis in Washington but attached to the Schofield-based 25th Aviation Combat Brigade.

The soldiers died when the Black Hawk encountered mechanical problems shortly after picking up a night-raiding party Wednesday.

Since last year when the 25th Infantry Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team arrived in Iraq, the unit has lost 34 soldiers.

Until Wednesday the 25th Division's largest single-day loss since the Vietnam War was Dec. 6 when five soldiers were killed when a roadside bomb exploded near their Humvee. The soldiers were on a humanitarian mission.

The names of seven of the 10 Hawaii-based soldiers killed in the helicopter crash were already released Wednesday by friends and family members.

The latest three are:

» Capt. Derek A. Dobogai, 26, of Fond du Lac, Wis.

» Spc. Tyler R. Seideman, 20, of Lincoln, Ark., who was assigned to Schofield March 23, 2006.

» Staff Sgt. Jason L. Paton of Poway, Calif., who was assigned to Schofield March 19, 2004.

In Wisconsin, WKBT television in La Crosse reported that Dobogai was remembered by chemistry and physics teacher Riley Westphal as being a good student and a cross-country runner at Winnebago Lutheran Academy where he graduated in 1999 in Fond du Lac.

In Massachusetts the family of Cpl. Jeremy P. Bouffard, 21, of Middlefield, Mass., said in a written statement, "He was a soldier who died doing his duty. His job was difficult, but he was content with himself, his family and his life."

Bouffard's wife and 1-year-old son live on Oahu.

Jennifer James, wife of a staff sergeant assigned to the same unit as those killed, told a group of reporters at a Schofield Barracks news conference yesterday how the community pulls together as a family in times of tragedy. She is a Family Readiness Group member for her husband's unit.

But her son, Bradley James, 9, told the personal side of his mother's reaction to the news.

"I can't handle my mom's tears," he said. The last time she cried was Wednesday, he said.

Jennifer James said, "It's sad when your 9-year-old is your support system."

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10 killed in crash were based on Oahu, 4 from Washington

The Pentagon has released the names of the 14 soldiers killed Wednesday in the crash of a Black Hawk helicopter. Ten were assigned to Schofield Barracks and four were from Fort Lewis, Wash.

Schofield Barracks soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry, 3rd Brigade Combat Team:

» Capt. Derek A. Dobogai, 26, of Fond du Lac, Wis.

» Spc. Tyler R. Seideman, 20, of Lincoln, Ark.

» Staff Sgt. Jason L. Paton of Poway, Calif.

» Sgt. Garrett I. McLead, 23, of Rockport, Texas

» Cpl. Jeremy P. Bouffard, 21, of Middlefield, Mass.

» Cpl. Phillip J. Brodnick, 25, of New Lenox, Ill.

» Cpl. Joshua S. Harmon, 20, of Mentor, Ohio.

» Cpl. Nathan C. Hubbard, 21, of Clovis, Calif.

» Spc. Michael A. Hook, 25, of Altoona, Pa.

» Spc. Jessy G. Pollard, 22, of Springfield, Mo.

The Fort Lewis crew of the Black Hawk helicopter from the 4th Squadron, 6th U.S. Air Cavalry Regiment:

» Capt. Corry P. Tyler, 29, of Georgia

» Chief Warrant Officer Paul J. Flynn, 28, of Whitsett, N.C.

» Sgt. Matthew L. Tallman, 30, of Groveland, Calif.

» Spc. Rickey L. Bell, 21, of Caruthersville, Mo.