| Guard copter pilots killed in Iraq |
|
|
Posted: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 8:27 am
|
 Email  Print
|
Major General Max Haston, Tennessee's Adjutant General, confirmed that two Tennessee Army National Guard pilots were killed Sunday in a helicopter accident in Iraq.
Captain Marcus Ray Alford, of Knoxville, and Chief Warrant Officer Two Billie Jean Grinder, of Gallatin were killed when their OH-58D Kiowa Warrior made a "hard landing" near Qayyarah Airfield West (Q-West) about 30 miles south of Mosul in Northern Iraq. The Soldiers were assigned to Troop C, 1/230th Air Cavalry in Louisville, Tennessee.
Grinder was a graduate of Smyrna High School. She was the first Tennessee National Guard woman to die in Iraq.
"Words cannot express my extreme sorrow at the loss of these outstanding Soldiers, and my heartfelt sympathy goes out to the families and friends of these valiant warriors." Gen. Haston said. "Tennessee has lost two brave volunteers who truly believed in what they were doing to ensure a free Iraq.
“This loss is felt not only in the Tennessee National Guard, but throughout the entire military community. We shall miss them greatly.
“We are still a nation at war and we must continue to keep our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen in our daily thoughts and prayers."
The accident is under investigation.
|
|
Facebook
StumbleUpon
Google
Yahoo!