UH-60 Black Hawk with crew of 5, missing off coast of Hawaii

As some of you know, my younger son is a UH-60 Pilot in Oahu. We of course were on the phone with him this morning and he is fine, they are devastated by the loss. I will let the news unfold as it's released but one of the pilots were in flight school with my son, it has hit them all hard.

My prayers are with them all and their families.
 
The 25th CAB just released the following information including the names of the missing crew. This is heart breaking for all involved and our hearts go out for the families, God bless all those that serve.

OFFICIAL RELEASE:


25ID aircrew status changed to “DUSTWUN” after suspension of search and rescue

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, HAWAII – Officials from the 25th Infantry Division released the names of five missing Soldiers after the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter they were on crashed off-shore of the island of Oahu Aug. 15. The five missing Soldiers are now considered, duty status – whereabouts unknown, commonly called DUSTWUN.

The DUSTWUN Soldiers are:

1st Lt. Kathryn M. Bailey, 26, of Hope Mills, North Carolina. Bailey was an aviation officer assigned to Company D, 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. Her decorations include the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon and the Army Aviator Badge.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Brian M. Woeber, 41, of Decatur, Alabama. Woeber was a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot assigned to Company A, 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. His awards and decorations include the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Achievement Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with award numeral 4, the NATO Medal, the Multinational Forces and Observer Medal, the Combat Action Badge and the Senior Army Aviator Badge. His deployments include Afghanistan and Egypt.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Stephen T. Cantrell, 32, of Wichita Falls, Texas. Cantrell was a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot assigned to Company A, 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. His awards and decorations include the Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Achievement Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, the Iraq Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon with award numeral 3, the NATO Medal, the Army Aviator Badge and the Meritorious Unit Commendation. He deployed twice to Afghanistan and once to Iraq.

Staff Sgt. Abigail R. Milam, 33, of Jenkins, Kentucky. Milam was a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crew chief with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. Her awards and decorations include Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal with two loops, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with award numeral 2, Army Service Ribbon, and the Army Aviator Badge.

Sgt. Michael L. Nelson, 30, of Antioch, Tennessee. Nelson was a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crew chief with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. His awards and decorations include the Air Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal with three loops, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with three Campaign Stars, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon with award numeral 3, the NATO Medal, the Aviator Badge and the Meritorious Unit Commendation. He deployed twice to Afghanistan.

This announcement comes following suspension of search and rescue operations Aug. 21 after the Soldiers could not be located despite continuous search efforts supported by aircraft and ships for more than five days.

Operations have now shifted to recovery and salvage efforts supported by the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the 25th Infantry Division. There is no timetable for completion of these operations. The circumstances of this incident are currently under investigation.
 
Today was the memorial service for the crew of the Blackhawk.

RIP
 
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