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The Honolulu Advertiser

Updated at 12:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Schofield to hold memorial tomorrow for 10 soldiers

Advertiser Staff

 
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A memorial service is set for tomorrow morning for 10 Schofield Barracks soldiers who were killed last week in a helicopter crash in northern Iraq.

The soldiers, from the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment "Cacti" at Schofield, were passengers on a UH-60 Black Hawk that crashed Wednesday, killing all 14 aboard. Four crewmen were from Fort Lewis, Wash.

An investigation is under way into the crash, which officials said was caused by a mechanical malfunction. CBS News has reported a problem with the tail rotor caused the helicopter to spiral into the ground.

The crash marked the greatest loss of life for the 25th Infantry Division since the Vietnam War and the worst helicopter crash in Iraq since a CH-53 Super Stallion went down in western Iraq on Jan. 26, 2005.

In that 2005 crash, Hawai'i also paid a heavy price: Of 31 killed, 26 Marines and a sailor were from Kane'ohe Bay.

A combat memorial with 14 sets of empty boots, and upturned rifles with dog tags, helmet and photos of the fallen soldiers, was held today at Kirkuk Air Base.

Tomorrow's service is not open to the general public.

The 10 Schofield soldiers killed were:

  • Cpl. Nathan C. Hubbard

  • Capt. Derek A. Dobogai

  • Spc. Jessy G. Pollard

  • Cpl. Jeremy Paul Bouffard

  • Cpl. Joshua S. Harmon

  • Spc. Michael A. Hook

  • Sgt. Garrett I. McLead

  • Cpl. Phillip J. Brodnick

  • Staff Sgt. Jason L. Paton

  • Spc. Tyler R. Seideman