Army identifies soldier killed in helicopter crash

By Alicia P.Q. Wittmeyer
The Virginian-Pilot
© October 26, 2009

NORFOLK

Military officials have released the name of the soldier who was killed when an Army helicopter crashed into a Navy supply ship during a training exercise off the Virginia coast Thursday.

Army officials said the soldier was Staff Sgt. James R. Stright, 29, of Libby, Mont. Stright was assigned to Hunter Army Airfield, Ga.

Stright volunteered for Army service in 1998 and had served in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) since 2003 as a helicopter mechanic.

Two Black Hawk helicopters were approaching the supply ship Arctic, about 23 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach, when one crashed into the back of the ship. The crash killed Stright and injured eight others.

COMMENTS ADVISORY: Users are solely responsible for opinions they post here; comments do not reflect the views of The Virginian-Pilot or its websites. Users must follow agreed-upon rules: Be civil, be clean, be on topic; don't attack private individuals, other users or classes of people. Read the full rules here.
- Comments are automatically checked for inappropriate language, but readers might find some comments offensive or inaccurate. If you believe a comment violates our rules, click the report violation link below it.

Posted to: Military

More Military Stories

Toolbox

Save & Share

special features