Some Gave All

Last Wednesday night around 7pm local, a UH-60 Blackhawk was on approach to Coleman Airfield in Mannheim, Germany when something went terribly wrong. The aircraft never made it to the airfield, but went down in the woods a few miles away. All three crew members died.

Every time we lose a member of our Army Aviation family, whether we know them personally or not, it is tough. It is a reminder of the dangers of this job and the uncertainty of life. This one was particularly challenging for Matt, as he had to work at the crash site on a few occasions and saw first hand the devastation that occurred.

The days that followed the crash have been filled with questions, some answers, and a lot of speculation. There is a burning desire to know what went wrong, so that it could be prevented from happening again. And there is a sickening knot in our stomachs as we think of the family members who lost a loved one: the wife who has the burden of comforting her children when she herself needs comfort, the kids who have lost their dad, and the parents who lost a child. Tomorrow is the Battalion memorial service for the crew. It will be a time for family, friends, and fellow aviators to remember these soldiers who gave all they had, their life.

Gone but not forgotten: Chief Warrant Officer 3 Gary M. Farwell, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Clayton M. Hickman and Specialist Matthew E. Clark.