TACOMA, Wash. — A somber atmosphere envelops the military community as the Army confirms the identities of four soldiers who tragically perished in a helicopter crash near Joint Base Lewis-McChord on Wednesday. The victims—Chief Warrant Officers Andrew Cully and Andrew Kraus, along with Sergeants Donavon Scott and Jadalyn Good—were engaged in routine flight training when their MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed around 9 p.m.
In a heartfelt statement, Colonel Stephen Smith praised the soldiers, stating, They embodied the unwavering dedication, selflessness, and excellence that define the very spirit of the Army and Army Special Operations. The four soldiers hailed from various locations: Cully, 35, was from Sparta, Missouri; Kraus, 39, from Sanibel, Florida; Scott, 25, and Good, 23, both from Washington state.
As part of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, often referred to as the Night Stalkers, these soldiers were renowned for executing high-stakes missions under the cover of darkness. Their commitment to excellence in special operations aviation made them exemplary figures within the Army. The regiment's history bears the scars of loss; this incident marks the second deadly crash involving their ranks in recent years.
Previous incidents include a crash in the Eastern Mediterranean in 2023, which took the lives of five other Army aviation special operations members. The investigation into the cause of this latest crash is ongoing, though weather conditions at the time were reportedly clear.
