Latest news with #101stAirborne
CBS News
18 hours ago
- CBS News
Michigan soldier dies from "non-combat-related incident" while serving in Iraq
A Michigan man serving in Iraq has died as a result of a "non-combat related incident," the U.S. Department of Defense reported Wednesday. Staff Sgt. Saul Fabian Gonzalez, 26, of Pullman, Michigan, died Tuesday while serving in Erbil, Iraq, in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. Gonzalez was assigned to D Troop, 2nd Squadron, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky. "It is with heavy hearts, we share the news of the loss of SSG Saul F. Gonzalez," his unit posted on social media Wednesday. "While his passing was not combat-related, it is felt by all who knew him. We honor his service and reflect upon the positive impact he had as an outstanding Non-Commissioned Officer, Technical Inspector, and friend. Please keep his family and fellow Troopers in your thoughts and prayers." The death is under investigation, according to the Department of Defense press release.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Soldier Killed in 'Horrific' Helicopter Training Accident Identified
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Dustin K. Wright, 40, was killed in an Army training exercise at Fort Campbell on June 11 An Army pilot who was also training sustained minor injuries and was released from the hospital later that night The incident remains under investigationA helicopter training incident at Fort Campbell has left one soldier dead and another injured, according to the U.S. Army. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Dustin K. Wright, 40, died as a result of wounds from an AH-64 Apache helicopter training accident on June 11, the 101st Airborne Division confirmed in a Facebook post on Friday, June 13. The other soldier, identified only as a pilot, sustained minor injuries. He was immediately evacuated to the Blanchfield Army Community Hospital in Tennessee and was later released the night of the incident. Fort Campbell is a U.S. Army installation that extends across the Kentucky–Tennessee border. "The entire 101st Combat Aviation Brigade grieves the loss of CW2 Dustin Wright," said Col. Tyler Partridge, commander, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Div. "A former Infantryman, Dustin cherished every opportunity to be outside and support ground troops. He did so with strength and honor. We will forever cherish the memories of his service, and his legacy will live on in the hearts of all who knew him," Partridge added. 'No matter how it happens, when we lose someone who has committed to serving our country, I know it hurts that family but it should hurt us all,' Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said Thursday, June 12, the Associated Press reported. Kentucky State Sen. Craig Richardson added, 'This tragedy is a solemn reminder that the dangers our military faces are not limited to distant battlefields. The call to serve brings risks at home, in training, preparation, and quiet readiness.' Wright joined the Army in 2010 and began his career at Fort Campbell in May 2022. His awards and decorations include the Air Medal with "C" Device, the Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Army Aviator Badge, the Army Parachutist Badge, and the Army Pathfinder Badge. The 101st Airborne Division is the only air assault division of the U.S. Army, according to its website. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. They earned the nickname 'Screaming Eagles' by demonstrating the highest standards of military professionalism since their activation at one minute after midnight, Aug. 16, 1942. In 2023, a helicopter training left nine soldiers of the 101st Airborne dead when two HH-60 Black Hawk medical evacuation helicopters crashed into one, according to The New York Times. The cause of last week's accident is under investigation. Read the original article on People
CBS News
6 days ago
- CBS News
Army pilot killed in helicopter training accident in Kentucky identified
A 40-year-old Army pilot was killed, and a second pilot was injured, in a helicopter training accident Wednesday evening at Fort Campbell in Kentucky, the Army post said. The soldier killed was identified Friday by the 101st Airborne Division as Chief Warrant Officer 2 Dustin K. Wright. In a post to social media earlier Friday, the 101st Airborne Division said the incident involving an AH-64 Apache helicopter had occurred in "preparation for the Army's 250th birthday," the festival and parade being held in Washington, D.C., to commemorate the Army's 250th anniversary — that also coincides with President Trump's 79th birthday. However, in a follow-up post, the division said it wanted to "clarify" that the incident "occurred during a routine attack aviation training mission inside the Fort Campbell training area. The crew was not in direct support of Week of the Eagles or Army Birthday." A spokesperson for the 101st Airborne Division also told CBS News by phone Friday that the training exercise had "100% nothing to do with the birthday parade in D.C." and was simply "happening while the Army prepares for the 250th birthday date." Week of the Eagles is an annual event that honors the heritage of the 101st Airborne Division. The injured pilot was treated and released from Blanchfield Army Community Hospital for minor injuries, officials said. No further details were provided. The incident is under investigation. Wright joined the Army in 2010 and had served at Fort Campbell since May 2022. He was highly-decorated, having been awarded the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal and the Army Parachutist Badge, among others, his division said. "The entire 101st Combat Aviation Brigade grieves the loss of CW2 Dustin Wright," Col. Tyler Partridge, commander of the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, said in a statement Friday. "A former Infantryman, Dustin cherished every opportunity to be outside and support ground troops. He did so with strength and honor. We will forever cherish the memories of his service, and his legacy will live on in the hearts of all who knew him." Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear was among those offering condolences to the family of the soldier who died. "No matter how it happens, when we lose someone who has committed to serving our country, I know it hurts that family but it should hurt us all," the Democratic governor said Thursday. Kentucky state Sen. Craig Richardson, whose western Kentucky district includes the Fort Campbell area, said the soldier's death was heartbreaking. "This tragedy is a solemn reminder that the dangers our military faces are not limited to distant battlefields," the Republican lawmaker said. "The call to serve brings risks at home, in training, preparation, and quiet readiness." The sprawling Fort Campbell post straddles the Kentucky-Tennessee line.
New York Times
12-06-2025
- New York Times
One Soldier Killed, One Injured in Helicopter Training Mission at Fort Campbell
A soldier was killed and another was injured during a helicopter training mission on Wednesday at Fort Campbell, the military said on Thursday. The training accident at Fort Campbell, a sprawling army installation that straddles the Kentucky-Tennessee border, occurred at about 7 p.m. on Wednesday, the 101st Airborne Division said in a statement. Emergency services responded and confirmed one soldier had died. The other was evacuated to Blanchfield Army Community Hospital in Clarksville, Tenn., where he was in stable condition, the statement said. The pilot and the co-pilot were the only two people on the aircraft at the time of the accident, a spokesman said in an email. Their names were not released, and the spokesman did not identify which soldier had died. The 101st Airborne Division's statement did not say what had caused the deadly accident, which is under investigation; what exactly had happened; or what type of helicopter had been involved. Fort Campbell is spread over 105,000 acres in parts of Trigg and Christian Counties in Kentucky, as well as Montgomery and Stewart Counties in Tennessee. The 101st Airborne Division, the Army's only air assault division, specializes in rapid deployment, often under cover of darkness. The accident took place at a training area on the Tennessee part of the base, the military said. The base and its airborne division were at the center of a crash in March 2023, in which nine soldiers were killed when two HH-60 Black Hawk assault helicopters collided during routine training near Fort Campbell. Weeks later, in April, three crew members from the 11th Airborne Division were killed when their Apache helicopters collided in Alaska. The two crashes prompted the U.S. Army to ground flights until squadrons completed required training. Such stand-downs are common after two or more mishaps within a short period.
The Independent
12-06-2025
- The Independent
Army soldier killed and another hurt in helicopter ‘incident' near Fort Campbell in Kentucky
A soldier was killed and another was injured Wednesday during a helicopter training exercise at Fort Campbell, military officials announced Thursday. The incident occurred around 7 p.m. in a designated training area on the post, which straddles the Kentucky - Tennessee border. Fort Campbell houses the 101st Airborne Division and the 160th SOAR. One soldier was pronounced dead at the scene, while the second was taken by ambulance to Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, where they are currently in stable condition. The identities of both soldiers have not yet been released, pending official next-of-kin notifications. The incident is being investigated by a military aviation safety team. Authorities have not disclosed additional details about the type of helicopter involved or the specific cause of the incident. This tragedy comes roughly two years after a major helicopter disaster at the same base. On March 29, 2023, a nighttime training flight near Fort Campbell ended in tragedy when two HH‑60 Black Hawk medevac helicopters collided, killing all nine service members on board.
