Four Division West, First Army crew members killed in helicopter crash at Fort Hood, Texas

Four crew members on an Army helicopter died when it crashed at Fort Hood, the Texas base’s press office said. The UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter went down sometime after 5:49 p.m. Monday in the northeastern part of the Fort Hood Range. Emergency crews conducted “an extensive search” that ended with the discovery of the four deceased crew members. The Fort Hood statement did not immediately identify the crash victims, beyond saying they’d been assigned to Division West, First Army. “They were on a routine training mission at the time,” the Army base said. “… The cause of the crash is unknown at this time.” Located in Killeen between Dallas and San Antonio, Fort Hood is one of the U.S. Army’s largest bases.

Emergency crews located the scene of the incident and reported that the four crew members were found dead. The names of the crew members will be released pending notification of their families. Officials say the crew was assigned to Division West, First Army, and were on a routine training mission at the time of the crash. A board will be assigned to investigate. The cause of the crash is unknown.

× 4 dead in U.S. Army helicopter crash at Fort Hood (CNN) — Four crew members on an Army helicopter died when it crashed at Fort Hood, the Texas base’s press office said. The UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter went down sometime after 5:49 p.m. Monday in the northeastern part of the Fort Hood Range. Emergency crews conducted “an extensive search” that ended with the discovery of the four deceased crew members. The Fort Hood statement did not immediately identify the crash victims, beyond saying they’d been assigned to Division West, First Army. “They were on a routine training mission at the time,” the Army base said. “… The cause of the crash is unknown at this time.” Located in Killeen between Dallas and San Antonio, Fort Hood is one of the U.S. Army’s largest bases.

FORT HOOD, Texas — Four crew members on an Army helicopter died when it crashed at Fort Hood, the Texas base’s press office said. The UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter went down sometime after 5:49 p.m. Monday in the northeastern part of the Fort Hood Range. Emergency crews conducted “an extensive search” that ended with the discovery of the four deceased crew members. The Fort Hood statement did not immediately identify the crash victims, beyond saying they’d been assigned to Division West, First Army. “They were on a routine training mission at the time,” the Army base said. “… The cause of the crash is unknown at this time.” Located in Killeen between Dallas and San Antonio, Fort Hood is one of the U.S. Army’s largest bases.

Killed were 40-year-old Sgt. 1st Class Toby A. Childers, of Hays, Kansas; 40-year-old Chief Warrant Officer 3 Stephen B. Cooley, of Cantonment, Florida; 35-year-old Sgt. 1st Class Jason M. Smith, of Destrehan, Louisiana; and 40-year-old Chief Warrant Officer 2 Michael F. Tharp, of Katy, Texas. FORT HOOD, Texas — The Army has released the identities of four crew members who were killed when their helicopter crashed during a routine training exercise at Fort Hood in Texas. Fort Hood covers 214,000 acres, making it one of the largest Army posts in the country. Monday in the northeast portion of the sprawling military post about 60 miles north of Austin. More than 135,000 acres are reserved for training purposes.

FORT HOOD, Texas (AP) — The Army has released the identities of four crew members who were killed when their helicopter crashed during a routine training exercise at Fort Hood in Texas.The Black Hawk went down about 6 p.m. Monday in the northeast portion of the sprawling military post about 60 miles north of Austin. Killed were 40-year-old Sgt. 1st Class Toby A. Childers, of Hays, Kansas; 40-year-old Chief Warrant Officer 3 Stephen B. Cooley, of Cantonment, Florida; 35-year-old Sgt. 1st Class Jason M. Smith, of Destrehan, Louisiana; and 40-year-old Chief Warrant Officer 2 Michael F. Tharp, of Katy, Texas.The cause of the crash remains undetermined.Fort Hood covers 214,000 acres, making it one of the largest Army posts in the country. More than 135,000 acres are reserved for training purposes.

(WEAR) - Memorial services are set for four soldiers killed in a helicopter training accident in Ft. Cooley joined the Marines out of high school and later became a pilot in the Army."All American boy. Everybody who has a kid, wants him to grow up like Steve. When I was in the military we couldn't even afford a telephone call, now all it takes is a push from a tablet."Cooley leaves behind his wife Petra and his 6-year-old son.His uncle says the funeral will be at Fort Hood on December 10th. "He calls me dad."Cooley lived at his uncle's house in Cantonment for about 8 years while he got his degree at the University of West Florida.His uncle says he had a love for the military from a young age.

Friend and family laid to rest a Kay man killed in a Blackhawk helicopter crash just three days before Thanksgiving.Chief Warrant Officer 2 Michael F. Tharp, 40, was one of four soldiers who died in the Fort Hood crash, that army officials described as a routine training mission.Hundreds of service men and women gathered at American Heritage Funeral Home in Katy Monday morning. The procession to the nearby veteran's cemetery was led by bagpipers.Tharp had deep roots in Katy, raised as one of five children, graduating Katy High School in 1994.His sister told Eyewitness News Tharp had the opportunity to retire in September before the crash, but he wanted to continue flying and training.The crash is still under investigation.