What we know about the Kentucky-based soldiers killed in an overseas helicopter crash

Christopher Leach
·6 min read

The five U.S. soldiers killed in a Black Hawk helicopter crash in the Mediterranean Sea were distinguished servicemen who served multiple deployments during their military careers, according to information provided Monday by the U.S. Army.

The soldiers were performing a routine aerial refueling training exercise aboard a MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter when the incident happened Friday, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. The soldiers were identified Monday:

  • Chief Warrant Officer 3 Stephen R. Dwyer, 38, of Clarksville, Tennessee

  • Chief Warrant Officer 2 Shane M. Barnes, 34, of Sacramento, California

  • Staff Sgt. Tanner W. Grone, 26, of Gorham, New Hampshire

  • Sgt. Andrew P. Southard, 27, of Apache Junction, Arizona

  • Sgt. Cade M. Wolfe, 24, of Mankato, Minnesota.

The soldiers were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) in Fort Campbell, according to the Army. Here are more details about the servicemen.

5 soldiers based in Fort Campbell, Kentucky killed in overseas helicopter crash

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Stephen R. Dwyer, 38

Dwyer graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York in 2009, according to the Army. He then spent six years as a field artillery commissioned officer before graduating from flight school in 2018.

Dwyer completed several aviation assignments before joining the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment as an MH-60M Black Hawk pilot in Charlie Company, according to the Army. While with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Dwyer was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and to Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, among other overseas assignments.

Dwyer won several awards during his military career, including the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal with Combat device, four Army Commendation Medals, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, two Overseas Service Ribbons, the NATO Medal, the Ranger Tab, the Combat Action Badge, the Basic Army Aviator Badge, the Parachute Badge, and the Air Assault Badge, according to the Army.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Shane M. Barnes, 34

After graduating from Gonzaga University with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature in 2011, Barnes attended and eventually completed flight school at Fort Rucker, Alabama. He was then assigned to the 2-2 Assault Helicopter Battalion in Korea as a UH-60L Black Hawk pilot, where he excelled as a platoon leader and pilot in command, the Army said.

Barnes completed “Officer Green Platoon” in 2016 and was assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment as an MH-60M Black Hawk pilot in Charlie Company, according to the Army. Four years later he resigned his commission and became a warrant officer.

While with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Barnes was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and to Iraq multiple times in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE, among other overseas assignments, according to the Army.

“As an Instructor Pilot and Fully Mission Qualified pilot, Barnes significantly impacted the training aviators within the formation,” the Army said in a news release.

Barnes’s achievements during his military career include earning the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor device, the Air Medal with Combat device, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Korea Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Combat Action Badge, the Senior Army Aviator Badge and the Air Assault Badge, according to the Army.

Staff Sgt. Tanner W. Grone, 26

Grone enlisted in the Army in 2017 and was assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment as a 15T UH-60 Black Hawk repairer, according to the Army. Six months after completing the regiment’s training program, Grone reported to Charlie Company, 1st Battalion with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and served as a flight instructor and fully mission qualified MH-60M Black Hawk crew chief.

Grone deployed multiple times to Iraq in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE and to Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, among other overseas assignments, the Army said.

During his military career, Grone earned the Air Medal with Combat device, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal with combat device, the Army Achievement medal, two Army Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Combat Action Badge, and the Basic Aviation Badge, the Army said.

Sgt. Andrew P. Southard, 27

Southard began his military career with the 1st Armored Division’s Combat Aviation Brigade at Fort Bliss, Texas, where he served as a 15T UH-60 Black Hawk repairer, according to the Army. Southard was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM while he was with the 1st Armored Division Combat Aviation Brigade.

After completing a 13-month rotation to Task Force Sinai, Southard went to Fort Campbell and joined 101st Combat Aviation Brigade. On the side he would volunteer for assignment with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.

In 2023 Southard completed the regiment’s training program and joined the regiment’s 1st Battalion as an MH-60M Blawk Hawk crew chief, according to the Army.

Southard’s awards and decorations include two Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, two Army Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Basic Aviation Badge, the Army said.

Sgt. Cade M. Wolfe, 24

Wolfe enlisted in the Army in 2018 and was assigned to the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade at WheelerArmy Airfield, Hawaii, as a 15TUH-60 Black Hawk repairer, according to the Army. Wolfe went on to complete the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment’s training program and was assigned to the regiment’s 1st Battalion as an MH-60M Black Hawk crew chief.

During his career, Wolfe earned two Army Commendation Medals, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Basic Aviation Badge, according to the Army.

“Chief Warrant Officer 3 Stephen Dwyer, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Shane Barnes, Staff Sgt. Tanner Grone, Sgt. Andrew Southard, and Sgt. Cade Wolfe were truly SOF professionals and are among the Nation’s finest soldiers,” said said Col. Roger Waleski Jr., commander of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. “Their loss has left an indelible void within this Regiment that will never be filled.”