DOD releases names of Schofield soldiers killed in Afghanistan
An Army carry team loads into a vehicle a transfer case containing the remains of Spc. Richard A. Essex Sunday
Sergeant Luis A. Oliver Galbreath, 41, of San Juan, Puerto Rico died in a Black Hawk helicopter crash in Afghanistan. He was assigned to A Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
Sergeant Richard A. Essex, 23, Kelseyville, California died in a Black Hawk helicopter crash in Afghanista on Aug. 16, 2011. He was assigned to A Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
Chief Warrant Officer Suresh N. A. Krause, 29, a helicopter pilot from Cathedral City, California, died in a crash in southern Afganistan on Aug. 16, 2012. He was assigned to A Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
Chief Warrant Officer Brian D. Hornsby, 37, of Melbourne, Florida, a pilot, was killed in a helicopter crash n Afghanistan on Aug. 16. He was assigned to A Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
The Pentagon today released the names of the four Black Hawk crew members from Schofield Barracks and three Navy sailors who lost their lives last week in a helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan.
Killed on Thursday were: pilots Chief Warrant Officer Brian D. Hornsby, 37, of Melbourne, Fla., and Chief Warrant Officer Suresh N. A. Krause, 29, of Cathedral City, Calif. The other crewmembers were Sgt. Luis A. Oliver Galbreath, 41, of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Sgt. Richard A. Essex, 23, Kelseyville, Calif.
The crew was assigned to A Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, at Schofield Barracks.
Two Navy SEALs and a Navy explosives expert also died in the crash. The Defense Department said Petty Officer 1st Class Patrick D. Feeks, 28, of Edgewater, Md., and Petty Officer 2nd Class David J. Warsen, 27, of Kentwood, Mich., were assigned to a West Coast-based naval special warfare unit. Relatives of Warsen previously identified him as a SEAL.
Also identified were Petty Officer 1st Class Sean P. Carson, 32, of Des Moines, Wash., assigned to an explosive ordnance disposal mobile unit in San Diego.
Three members of the Afghan security forces and a Afghan civilian interpreter also were killed. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
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About 2,600 Hawaii soldiers with the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade are in southern Afghanistan on a year-long deployment that began in January.
“Our heartfelt condolences and prayers go out to the families and loved ones of our fallen heroes,” said Maj. Gen. Kurt Fuller, commanding general, 25th Infantry Division. “Although the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade family has suffered a huge loss, they still continue their mission with the utmost courage and resolve.”
Army Secretary John McHugh, who is in Hawaii, on Monday expressed his “personal deepest sympathy to the families and loved ones of the four soldiers who were recently lost in the downed helicopter in Afghanistan.”
McHugh added that “this is a time when Army families come together, when we put our arms around each other and care, and I just wanted them to know — all of us in the Army are joining in their sorrow.”
Hornsby’s awards and decorations include the Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal and the Senior Army Aviator Badge.
He joined the Army Sept. 15, 1998, and became a helicopter pilot March 11, 2003. This was Hornsby’s second deployment.
He was married with two children.
Krause’s awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal and the Army Aviator Badge.
Krause joined the Army Feb. 1, 2007, and became a Black Hawk pilot June 22, 2009.
This was Krause’s second deployment.
Galbreath’s awards and decorations include the Air Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal and the Army Aviation Badge.
Galbreath joined the Army Jan. 25, 2003, and became a UH-60 helicopter repairer Dec. 4, 2003.
This was Oliver Galbreath’s second deployment.
He was married with three children.
Essex’s awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, Army Aviation Badge and the Drivers Badge.
Essex joined the Army July 1, 2008, and became a vehicle mechanic Nov. 23, 2008.
This was Essex’s second deployment.
In April, four Schofield soldiers, among them Waipahu native Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Don C. Viray, 25, were killed in another Black Hawk helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan.
