Aviators Remembered
I have been in the field for the past week for the major 2ID training exercise currently going on. I got some momentary access to the internet to update you on the Apache crash. Unfortunately the one survivor from the crash, CW2 Cowan has past away. The first casualty CPT Burmaz I actually met a few months back at a division function. He seemed to be a really good guy. I’m sorry to see this happen. Here is an update on the crash from the Stars and Stripes.
1st Battalion, 2nd Aviation Regiment commander Lt. Col. Chandler Sherrell spoke Wednesday at Yongsan?s South Post Chapel during a memorial for Cowan and fellow pilot Capt. Dion J. Burmaz, who died Saturday after their helicopter crashed at Twin Bridges Training Area near the Demilitarized Zone.
Sherrell was one of the last people to see Cowan, who survived the crash but died later at a hospital.
?When Mr. Cowan was taken from the medevac aircraft, I looked into his eyes and he looked back at me. There was no quit in that man,? he said.
The fallen aviators, who served with 1-2?s Company A, the ?Razorbacks,? gave their lives ?so our children can grow up in a free country,? Sherrell said.
The Twin Bridges training area is one of the most heavily used training areas in 2ID located about 8km south of the DMZ. It is a valley with rugged mountains on each side. It is not the first time an accident has happened here. The army and especially being a helicopter pilot, is definitely a dangerous business.
I will blog more when I back from the field next week.
I knew both Aviators, and it was a pleasure and an honor Knowing them. And the will be missed but the Camp Page USAF Weather Forecasters.
Hotel Delta.