The names of the three troops who perished in a Thursday accident involving two Apache helicopters have been made public by the Army.
The troops from the 1st Attack Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment at Fort Wainwright were returning to base after a training mission when the terrible crash in Healy, Alaska, took place. The group is a member of the 11th Airborne Division, sometimes known as the "Arctic Angels."
Three soldiers were killed: two at the scene of the crash and one en route to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital. A fourth soldier who was hurt in the collision made it to the hospital in time for medical attention.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Christopher Robert Eramo, 39, of Oneonta, New York, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kyle D. McKenna, 28, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Warrant Officer 1 Stewart Duane Wayment, 32, of North Logan, Utah were all fatalities in the accident on Thursday.
According to the army's announcement on Saturday, the fourth soldier is in a stable condition at the hospital. He is still unidentified.
The commander of the 1-25th AB, Lt. Col. Matthew C. Carlsen, remarked that the battalion was "devastated and mourning the loss of three of our best." The sorrow and grief that the families of Chief Warrant Officer 3 Chris Eramo, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kyle McKenna, and Warrant Officer 1 Stewart "Stew" Wayment are going through, however, cannot be equated to our loss.
“The entire team has come together to focus our thoughts, prayers, and actions to provide and sustain them with whatever comfort and support they need at this time, and I promise that this will continue long into the future,” Carlsen said. “Our mission now is to focus on the families, the survivors and to honor and cherish their memories. Chris, Kyle, and Stew will forever be ‘Little Bears,’ ‘Vikings,’ and ‘ToughOnes’ of the Arctic Attack.”
A U.S.-based Safety Investigation Team is looking into the crash's cause. Army Combat Readiness Center in Alabama's Fort Novosel.
The investigators are not permitted to provide any details to the public on the causes, analyses, or internal recommendations, according to Army laws and Department of Defense directives. While both the Kentucky crash and the one on Thursday are still under investigation, the statement continued, "There is no indication of any pattern between the two mishaps."
“The loss of these Soldiers is devastating and is being felt by family, friends, and military communities across Alaska,” said Maj. Gen. Brian Eifler, commanding general of the 11th Airborne Division. “The families of Fort Wainwright and 1-25 are as strong a team as I’ve ever seen. Our hearts are heavy, and our thoughts and prayers are with the families, friends, and loved ones of the fallen.”
The tragic event was the third involving a military chopper in the previous three months. Due to the incidents, the U.S. Army said on Friday that all aircraft units would be grounded for training. Twelve troops have died in such collisions in Kentucky and Alaska just in the past month alone.
The training is scheduled to take place for active-duty troops between May 1 and May 5. Army Reserve and National Guard troops have until May 31 to finish the training.
“The move grounds all Army aviators, except those participating in critical missions, until they complete the required training,” the Army said in a statement.
