Missing Black Hawk Crew Identified
By Debbie Gregory.
The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended the active search for five crew members missing after their Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter went down during a training exercise on August 15th off the Hawaiian coast.
The Army has identified the crew as:
- 1st Lt. Kathryn Bailey, 26, of Hope Mills, North Carolina, was an aviation officer. Her decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon and the Army Aviator Badge.
- Chief Warrant Officer 2 Stephen Cantrell, 32, of Wichita Falls, Texas, was a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot. He received multiple decorations and awards including the Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster and the Army Achievement Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster.
- Staff Sgt. Abigail Milam, 33, of Jenkins, Kentucky, was a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crew chief. She received multiple decorations and awards including the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal and Army Good Conduct Medal with two loops.
- Sgt. Michael Nelson, 30, of Antioch, Tennessee, was a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crew chief. He received multiple decorations and awards including the Air Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Commendation Medal and the Army Achievement Medal.
- Chief Warrant Officer 3 Brian Woeber, 41, of Decatur, Alabama, was a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot. He received multiple decorations and awards including the Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters and Navy Achievement Medal.
They all served with the 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division.
“I know that all the responders helping in this rescue effort join me and the rest of this division in offering the families of the missing soldiers our deepest condolences and sympathies, “ said Maj. Gen. Christopher Cavoli, commanding general of the 25th Infantry Division. “They have been and will constantly remain in our thoughts and prayers during this trying time.”
Our sincerest sympathies go out to the loved ones of these five heroes.
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