U.S. Army identifies 9 soldiers killed in Black Hawk helicopter collision

The U.S. Military on Friday recognized the 9 troopers killed in a mid-air collision involving two Black Hawk helicopters close to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, on Wednesday night. 

The U.S. service members have been aboard two HH60 Blackhawk helicopters throughout a routine coaching mission when the incident occurred, the Military mentioned in a information launch.

5 crew members have been aboard one helicopter and 4 have been within the different, Military officers mentioned throughout a information briefing on the collision. The accident occurred close to a residential subject so no “residents have been injured because of the crash,” they mentioned.

“It is a time of nice disappointment for the one hundred and first Airborne Division,” Maj. Gen. JP McGee, commanding normal of the one hundred and first Airborne Division (Air Assault) and Fort Campbell, mentioned in an announcement Friday. “The lack of these Troopers will reverberate via our formations for years to come back. Now could be the time for grieving and therapeutic. The entire division and this neighborhood stand behind the households and mates of our fallen Troopers.” 

Here is what we all know in regards to the fallen troopers from personnel information launched by the U.S. Military:

 Warrant Officer 1 Jeffery Barnes, 33, of Milton, Florida:

Florida native Jeffery Barnes enlisted within the Military in 2010. He skilled in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and at Fort Eustis, Virginia. Barnes’ service included a deployment to Afghanistan.

Cpl. Emilie Marie Eve Bolanos, 23, of Austin, Texas:

Bolanos was born within the Philippines on December 20, 1991. In 2019, she enlisted within the Military. She skilled at Fort Jackson and Fort Eustis. Bolanos spent 9 months in Germany.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Zachary Esparza, 36, of Jackson, Missouri: 

In 2010, Texas native Esparza enlisted within the Military. He skilled at Fort Jackson and at Fort Gordon, Georgia. Esparza served quite a few abroad missions, together with two abroad excursions in Japan and Hawaii. He was deployed to Afghanistan and likewise served 10 months in Egypt.

Sgt. Isaac Gayo, 27, of Los Angeles, California: 

Gayo was born within the Philippines and in 2019 he enlisted within the Military. He was residing in Los Angeles and skilled at Fort Jackson and Fort Eustis. Gayo was subsequently assigned to Camp Humphreys, Korea, the place he served in lots of capacities on the UH-60 crew.

Workers Sgt. Joshua C. Gore, 25, of Morehead Metropolis, North Carolina:  

Born in Virginia, Gore enlisted within the Military from Morehead Metropolis, North Carolina. Gore skilled at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and in Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He additionally served as a flight paramedic.

 Warrant Officer 1 Aaron Healy, 32, of Cape Coral, Florida

A Florida native, Healy enlisted within the Military from Cape Coral. Healy attended primary coaching at Fort Jackson, then Military Ordnance College at Aberdeen Proving Floor in Maryland. Healy served as an aeromedical evacuation pilot. He deployed on two excursions to Afghanistan.

 Workers Sgt. Taylor Mitchell, 30, of Mountain Brook, Alabama  

Alabama native Mitchell enlisted within the Military in 2014. Following primary coaching at Fort Jackson, he was assigned to Vilseck, Germany as a healthcare specialist. Mitchell served on two worldwide excursions in Romania and Germany as a flight paramedic.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Rusten Smith, 32, of Rolla, Missouri 

Florida native Smith enlisted within the Military from Rolla, Missouri in 2012. After attending primary coaching, Smith attended Superior Particular person Coaching at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. Smith served as an teacher pilot and was deployed twice to Afghanistan. Smith additionally served for 9 months in Germany in 2020.

Sgt. David Solinas Jr, 23, of Oradell, New Jersey:  

A New Jersey native, Solinas enlisted within the Military in 2018. He skilled at each Fort Sill and Fort Sam Houston. Solinas served as a fight medic in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. 

— Marc Schwartz contributed reporting.