Search Suspended for Army Helicopter That Crashed With Texan on Board

HONOLULU — Officials have suspended the search for five Army soldiers who were aboard a helicopter that crashed during offshore training in Hawaii last week.Army and Coast Guard officials on Monday notified the families of the missing soldiers that they were ending the search and rescue operation, said Maj. Gen. Christopher Cavoli, commander of the 25th Infantry Division.The Army identified the missing soldiers as 1st Lt. Kathryn M. Bailey, 26, of Hope Mills, N.C.; Chief Warrant Officer 3 Brian M. Woeber, 41, of Decatur, Ala.; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Stephen T. Cantrell, 32, of Wichita Falls; Staff Sgt. Abigail R. Milam, 33, of Jenkins, Ky.; and Sgt. Michael L. Nelson, 30, of Antioch, Tenn.."Our five soldiers who represent the best and the brightest of America have not been found," Cavoli said.There has been no determination yet of the crash's cause, Cavoli said after the search was suspended."It is a very, very difficult decision, and it weighs heavily, particularly on the hearts of the Coast Guard," said Rear Adm. Vincent B. Atkins, commander of the U.S. Coast Guard's 14th District."We used all of our training and professionalism in this very dynamic environment to mount the best response possible," Atkins added.Two Black Hawk helicopter crews were conducting training off the western tip of Oahu the night of Aug. 15 when one aircrew lost contact with the crew whose helicopter went missing.When the pilot on the lead helicopter realized the other aircraft was missing, he immediately turned his helicopter around and began to search, Cavoli said. But he later determined he didn't have the equipment he needed to launch a professional search so he alerted the Coast Guard, Cavoli said.  Continue reading...