War veteran mourns Fort Campbell soldier deaths, helps community heal

Scott Broden, Nashville Tennessean
·4 min read

CADIZ, Kent. — War veteran Jeff Struecker, a scheduled speaker at Trigg County High School on Thursday, told about his military chaplain experiences, coincidentally, the night after two Fort Campbell Black Hawk helicopters crashed seven miles away, resulting in nine deaths.

Organizers from Little River Baptist Association planned the event months ahead of the fatal crash that occurred less than 24 hours before.

The audience of almost 200 people shared prayers for the Black Hawk helicopter crash victims and their families, as they sat on the bleachers in the gym at the Cadiz, Kentucky high school.

Black Hawk Down Survivor Jeff Struecker speaks about his faith and military career as a chaplain and soldier, at the Trigg County High School, in Cadiz, Kentucky. The program was presented by the Little River Baptist Association on Thursday, March 30, 2023. Struecker speaks to the crowd the day after two Black Hawk helicopters from Fort Campbell crashed nearby. Struecker will conclude his program on Friday night at the high school.

Struecker has experienced his own fair share of eerily similar tragedy as a ground crew survivor of the tragic incident in 1993 when Somali forces shot down three Black Hawk helicopters in hostile territory, which was made into the book and movie, "Black Hawk Down."

His combat experience also includes participation in the invasion of Panama, Operation Desert Storm and more than a dozen combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. Struecker has earned many medals for his combat service, including the Silver Star.

He seemed to relate deeply with the sorrow of losing soldiers in such as crash, but this time close to home.

"I’m really glad to say that they decided we’re going to do this event because we believe it can help bring the community together and help them heal maybe some people that are really struggling with the news," Struecker said prior to speaking.

Also serving as a pastor at 2 Cities Church in the Columbus, Georgia, Struecker described himself as a "special operations door kicker" during the battle "when multiple Black Hawks got shot down and a lot of people died on those crash sites," he said.

“My first half of the career, I was an enlisted guy. That’s when I was in Somalia," he said explaining that an actor portrays him in the movie.

Among the audience members with strong memories of what happened in Somalia was veteran Bruce Wayne Grace, who served in the Navy from 1968 to 1972. Wearing a cap that honors his branch of service, Grace recalled watching the news when he learned about the American lives lost.

"I get emotional," said Grace, a retiree who volunteers with The Way Christian Youth Center in Trigg County.

'It breaks my heart': Audience members mourn those lost in crash

Grace had planned to attend the event to hear Struecker speak prior to the two 101st Airborne Division Black Hawks crashing.

"It breaks my heart," Grace said. "Being an ex-serviceman, I know how the families feel. Any loss is terrible."

Audience member Charles Jones also wore a Navy cap and expressed similar words about the nine who died when the Black Hawks crashed.

"It was terrible," said Jones, who served in the Navy from 1973 to 1977 and then in the reserves for 20 years with the United States Naval Construction Battalions. "Thoughts and prayers go out to the families."

Prayers were lifted up following the Little River Baptist Association program where war veteran Jeff Struecker spoke at the Trigg County High School gymnasium, in Cadiz, Kentucky, on Thursday, March 30, 2023, about his faith and military career as a chaplain and soldier. The event was held near the crash site of two Black Hawk helicopters from Fort Campbell that crashed the night before.

Jones said he appreciates what those serving in the military do to "keep us free."

"They pay a terrible price and the families do, too," Jones said.

Struecker touts 'the courage of the American warriors'

In the second half of Struecker's military career, he served as a chaplain sent to Iraq and Afghanistan to minister to troops and remember warriors after helicopter tragedies.

"One of the things that I think I’ll cherish for the rest of my life is the courage of the American warriors that I had a chance to serve next to, the helicopter pilots that were willing to place themselves in very dangerous situations so that I could do my mission on the battlefield," Struecker said.

War survivor Jeff Struecker, whose experiences were portrayed in the movie "Black Hawk Down," speaks at the Trigg County High School, in Cadiz, Kentucky, during a program presented by Little River Baptist Association on Thursday, March 30, 2023. Struecker speaks to the crowd the day after two Black Hawk helicopters from Fort Campbell crashed nearby. Struecker will conclude his program on Friday night at the high school.

"I really had a chance to serve with some of the greatest warriors on the planet, and without a doubt, the most talented helicopter pilots this country’s ever produced.”

Audience hears prayer from major who visited Fort Campbell crash site

The audience also heard a prayer from Maj. Tim Morgan, who's also law enforcement chaplain and pastor at Fruit Hill Baptist Church in Christian County. Based at Fort Campbell, Morgan went to the crash site of the two Black Hawks the night before attending the event at Trigg County High School.

“It was just a tragic event that as our heroes go out every night to train, to be on the edge, doing what we love to do," said Morgan, who's served as a helicopter pilot. "I’ve seen several crashes in my military career, and this was tragically probably the worst. These folks died doing what they loved, practicing to protect us and our nation. And they gave the full measure. There was nothing left to give."

Maj. Tim Morgan, a law enforcement chaplain, who also serves on active duty, gives a hug to a man that he prayed with at the end of the Little River Baptist Association program where veteran Jeff Struecker, whose experiences were portrayed in the movie Black Hawk Down, spoke at the Trigg County High School gymnasium, in Cadiz, Kentucky, on Thursday, March 30, 2023, about his faith and military career as a Chaplin and soldier. The event was held near the crash site of two Black Hawk helicopters from Fort Campbell that crashed the night before.

Morgan served with Struecker in Iraq and Afghanistan. "We've known each other about 20 years," he said.

Morgan said it was an honor to be present at the crash site.

"I live about five miles from the site," Morgan said. "A lot of my law enforcement friends called to make sure it wasn’t me, on the aircraft.

"And so I went down to just serve however I could, to console, to offer, just offer God’s Grace and comfort to just hurting men, men and woman who showed up to mourn the loss of their brothers and do what they could do.”

Maj. Tim Morgan, a law enforcement chaplain, who serves on active duty, and a member of the Kentucky Wounded Heroes nonprofit program and served as a voluntary chaplain at the site of the two downed Black Hawk helicopters not far from his home on Wednesday night. Morgan comforted and supported many emergency and military personnel that were at the crash site. Morgan spoke with the media following a Little River Baptist Association program where veteran Jeff Struecker, whose experiences were portrayed in the movie Black Hawk Down, spoke at the Trigg County High School gymnasium, in Cadiz, Kentucky, on Thursday, March 30, 2023. Struecker spoke to the crowd about his faith and his military career as both a Chaplin and a soldier.

Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions by emailing him at sbroden@dnj.com. Follow him on Twitter @ScottBroden. To support his work with The Daily News Journal, sign up for a digital subscriptionfor all dnj.com stories.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: War veteran mourns Fort Campbell soldier deaths, helps community heal