Four U.S. Soldiers Die in Kuwait Helicopter Crash (Names of those who died)

Reuters ^ | Feb. 25, 2003

[LBGA]

KUWAIT (Reuters) - Four U.S. soldiers were killed in Kuwait on Tuesday when their helicopter crashed during desert training in what U.S. officials said was an apparent accident.

The UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter went down near Camp New Jersey, a temporary U.S. military base 30 miles north of Kuwait City, while conducting night training, a U.S. military statement said. The four were the only people aboard.

"There is no indication that hostile fire might have caused the crash, which was apparently an accident," Marine Corps Lt. Col. Dave Lapan, a Pentagon spokesman, told Reuters in Washington.

The cause of the crash, which came as the U.S. military prepared for possible war with Iraq, was under investigation.

Lapan said two UH-60s had been involved in a long-range reconnaissance practice mission and that one of them crashed while the other helicopter landed safely. He said the accident occurred in the northern desert training area not far from Iraq.

Tens of thousands of U.S. troops are in the Gulf Arab state to prepare for a possible assault on neighboring Iraq to force the government of President Saddam Hussein to give up weapons of mass destruction. Iraq denies it has any such weapons.

The Pentagon identified the Army soldiers killed in the crash as Chief Warrant Officers Timothy W. Moehling, 35, of Florida and John D. Smith, 32, of Nevada, and Specialists William J. Tracy, 27, of New Hampshire and Rodrigo Gonzalez-Garza, 26, of Texas.

Gonzalez-Garza and Moehling were assigned to Company A of 5-158th Aviation based at Giebelstadt Army Air Field in Germany. Smith and Tracy were assigned to Company B, 5-158th Aviation at Aviano Air Base, Italy.

Tuesday's crash was the second of a Black Hawk involving U.S. personnel in a month. Another of the helicopters crashed near Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan in late January, killing all four crewmen aboard.

[LBGA]

This is so sad. Prayers for their families and friends.

[LBGA]

They have released the names of those who died in this tragic accident.

[leadpenny]

I know it would not help the families who are dealing with their loss but if I were investigating this accident one of the things I would want to know is why were crews being "mixed and matched" from different companies.

[LBGA]

Hmmm, I hadn't thought of that. I wonder if that could be a contributing factor.

My son was a crew chief on a Blackhawk in Korea before the assignment he has now and I know he was sometimes assigned to different birds than his own and different pilots, but they were always from the same company.

He was responsible for the repairs and maintenance on "his" bird and took great pride in his work. It looks like one pilot and one crew chief together from each company.

[leadpenny]

It just kind of jumps out at me. The human factors element will be investigated but cohesion and flight standardization are important issues. It might be one thing if A and B Companies were co-located in Europe but they obviously deployed to Kuwait from different countries.

[happygrl]

The Pentagon identified the Army soldiers killed in the crash as Chief Warrant Officers Timothy W. Moehling, 35, of Florida and John D. Smith, 32, of Nevada, and Specialists William J. Tracy, 27, of New Hampshire and Rodrigo Gonzalez-Garza, 26, of Texas.

These are the men who died at arms in order that we can live in peace and safety.

Dear Lord receive them and comfort their families.

[LBGA]

I wonder about the crew make-up of the other Blackhawk that landed safely. Maintenance is critical on these birds, and for the crew chief to know the history of one is essential, not to mention the working relationship with the other crew members.

[fightinJAG]

Prayers.

[dansangel]

Thank-you for the ping.

My most heart-felt prayers going out to the families of our fallen heroes. May our Lord give them the courage and strength to face their terrible losses.

May our Lord also give ALL Americans the wisdom to appreciate the sacrifices that our military men and women make for us every day to ensure our freedoms. May we NEVER take our freedom for granted. Please, dear Lord, watch over bless and keep safe all members of our troops overseas and all on active duty.

We ask this in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

[LBGA]

All I can say to your beautiful plea is "amen." These brave soldiers probably had young families who will now never know their fathers. What a great cost that we can live free, but I am so thankful to them and all our military for being willing to give up their lives for this noble cause.

[LBGA]

Thanks for sending your prayers and bumping this. These brave soldiers deserve to be known.

[LBGA]

Thanks Dansy... you always have a special way of offering comfort and hope. May your words and prayers be heard by the families who are now dealing with this loss.

[leadpenny]

There is probably a next to zero chance that what I am talking about had anything to do with this accident. Here is what most Helicopter Company Commanders learned in Vietnam: Unless it is really necessary, two qualified Aircraft Commanders should not be assigned to fly together on a regular basis. Pilots have egos and professional jealousies can develop. When I see that both pilots were CWOs and about the same age, it tells me they were both probably qualified Aircraft Commanders. Someone has to be designated AC for that flight, but when you throw in the fact that one of the pilots comes from another unit, it makes me uncomfortable.

None of this takes away from what I feel about the loss of some very brave Americans and what their familes are going through right now.

[dansangel]

Prayer Ping for our fallen heroes. Those of you that have ping lists, please use them as we remind each other to give thanks to those who make great sacrifices to protect our freedoms.

[Salvation]

May they rest in peace and may their families be consoled.

[LBGA]

You have made some excellent points and I hope that the investigators will take those same issues into consideration.

[LBGA]

Thanks, Dansy. Their names should be known. They made the ultimate sacrifice for all of us.

[LBGA]

Thanks for bumping this thread with your prayers.

[JustAmy]

Thanks for the ping, Dansangel.

Prayers for friends and families of these heros who died protecting our FReedoms.

May God Bless them and their families.

[homeschool mama]

Prayers heavenward for the loved ones of these precious men. May our Lord give them comfort and courage to face the days ahead...and peace in proper time. <><