Milton man among those killed in Black Hawk helicopter crash Wednesday during training mission

From Staff Reports
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A 33-year-old Milton man was among the nine soldiers killed after two U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopters crashed Wednesday night during a training mission in southwestern Kentucky, authorities said.

Warrant Officer 1 Jeffery Barnes, 33, of Milton was one of nine men killed in the crash. The HH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from the Army's 101st Airborne Division crashed around 10 p.m. Wednesday in Trigg County, Kentucky, to the west of the Army base Fort Campbell, the division said in a statement.

Fort Campbell spokesperson Nondice Thurman confirmed nine soldiers died in the crash.

Training mission crash: 9 soldiers dead after two Army Black Hawk helicopters crash during training in Kentucky

Here's what we know: US Army Black Hawk helicopters crash in Kentucky leaving nine dead.

The 101st Airborne Division, nicknamed the "Screaming Eagles," is the only air assault division of the U.S. Army.

All nine service members aboard the helicopters were killed during a "multi-ship" exercise using night vision goggles, Brig. Gen. John Lubas, the 101st Airborne deputy commander, said at a news conference Thursday. Five people were in one helicopter and four were in the other, he said.

"This is truly a tragic loss for our families, our division, and Fort Campbell," Lubas said.

Lubas said it was unclear what caused the crash. The Army sent an aviation safety team from Fort Rucker, Alabama, to investigate, according to statement from the 101st Airborne Division.

Who was Warrant Officer 1 Jeffery Barnes?

Barnes enlisted in the Army from Milton, Florida in 2010. He attended basic training in Fort Jackson, SouthCarolina, and advanced individual training at Fort Eustis, Virginia.

Barnes was subsequently assigned to 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade as a 15R, attack Helicopter Repairer in Savannah, Georgia. In February 2015 he was assigned as a squad leader in 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade atCamp Humphreys, Korea.

Warrant Officer 1 Jeffery Barnes, 33, of Milton, Florida
Warrant Officer 1 Jeffery Barnes, 33, of Milton, Florida

From 2016 through 2018 he served with 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, Fort Carson, Colorado. In 2019, Barnes servedas an instructor at Fort Eustis, Virginia before attending the Warrant Officer Basic Course in 2020. Barnes served as an Aeromedical Evacuation Pilot for the Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division since October of 2022.

While assigned to 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, Barnes deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

Barnes’ awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, the Army AchievementMedal; the Meritorious Unit Commendation; the Army Good Conduct Medal; the National Defense ServiceMedal; the Afghanistan Campaign Medal (Campaign Star); the Global War on Terrorism ServiceMedal; and the Korea Defense Service Medal.

Names of those killed in Black Hawk military training crash

  • Warrant Officer 1 Jeffery Barnes, 33, of Milton, Florida

  • Cpl. Emilie Marie Eve Bolanos, 23, of Austin, Texas

  • Chief Warrant Officer 2 Zachary Esparza, 36, of Jackson, Missouri

  • Sgt. Isaacjohn Gayo, 27, of Los Angeles, California

  • Staff Sgt. Joshua C. Gore, 25, of Morehead City, North Carolina

  • Warrant Officer 1 Aaron Healy, 32, of Cape Coral, Florida

  • Staff Sgt. Taylor Mitchell, 30, of Mountain Brook, Alabama

  • Chief Warrant Officer 2 Rusten Smith, 32, of Rolla, Missouri

  • Sgt. David Solinas Jr, 23, of Oradell, New Jersey

Christine Fernando of USA TODAY contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Black Hawk helicopter crash: Milton man Jeffery Barnes among deceased