The Army has released the names of four soldiers who lost their lives in a helicopter crash near a base in Washington last Wednesday.
The soldiers include Andrew Curry, 35, and Andrew Kraus, 39, along with Sergeant Donabon Scott and Jadalyn Goode, 23, all from the Army Special Operations Command (USASOC). They were part of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) when their MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter went down near Lewis McCord in Thurston County.
Colonel Stephen Smith, the commander of the 160th Regiment, referred to the fallen soldiers as “exceptional warriors,” highlighting their dedication, selflessness, and the spirit of the Army and its special operations.
Curry hailed from Sparta, Missouri, and enlisted in the Army in 2013. Kraus, originally from Sanibel, Florida, served in the Marines from 2008 to 2013 before joining the Army in 2017. Scott was from Mount Vernon, Washington, and joined in 2021.
USASOC reported that the crash occurred during routine flight training at about 9 PM PDT. The cause remains under investigation. The National Weather Service indicated that the skies were mostly clear and there were light winds from the south at the time of the incident.
Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders shared a video on Facebook concerning the solemn procession for the fallen soldiers. He noted that law enforcement escorted the soldiers to a nearby field, with the 160th soldiers returning to Joint Base Lewis-McChord alongside their team.
The 160th Regiment, based in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, has experienced previous losses, including five members who died in an air-fueling training accident in the Eastern Mediterranean in November 2023. Two other soldiers were injured during a helicopter crash at Lewis McCord earlier in March 2024.
The mission of the 160th Regiment is to organize, equip, train, and employ Army Special Operations Air Forces globally in support of emergency missions. Known as the Night Stalkers, this regiment has been operational since October 2001.
The USASOC statement emphasized that “their sacrifice for our nation will be etched in our hearts and in the legacy of our Night Stalkers.” It acknowledged the soldiers as not just skilled experts but also cherished teammates, friends, and family members, whose absence creates a profound void.
