SEATTLE (AP) — Four U.S. Army soldiers who were part of an elite team that does nighttime missions died when the MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter they were aboard crashed earlier this week near a military base in Washington state, Army officials said Friday.

The helicopter was on a routine training mission west of Joint Base Lewis-McChord when it crashed at about 9 p.m. Wednesday, the U.S. Army Special Operations Command said. The soldiers were part of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Airborne, officials said.

  • Harvey656@lemmy.world
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    18 hours ago

    “Known as Night Stalkers, these soldiers are recognized for their proficiency in nighttime operations,”

    Hmm… is… this a video game we are talking about? Wtf is this name? Never heard a cool military nickname, its always something dumb.

    • markko@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      We ought to know by now that even something as ridiculous as that could be taken seriously by his lot.

    • Batman@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      Theyre always paradropping into American lake. Usually out of airplanes though. It is West of the base.

      I rowed in this lake and we almost ran into them in the water one time. Zero warning :/. Our coxwain had us tilt to one side raising the oars directly over their heads before dawn. Not sure what an oar would do to a head. Know they are “jar heads”, but a second’s hesitation and they could have been “ajar heads”.

      • P00ptart@lemmy.world
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        1 day ago

        A) it’s the army, not marines. Marines are jarheads. B) you’re not going to do anything to someone floating in a lake by accidentally pushing on their head with a kayak paddle.

        • OopsOverbombing@lemmy.world
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          1 day ago

          I don’t believe he was referring to a kayak though. He mentioned his coxswain, which is a term from crew rowing. A boat of 8 or 4 will typically have one acting as an almost conductor and driver of the boat. Regardless, those oars are much heftier than a plastic kayak oar usually being made of wood and plastics but could definitely do some damage to someone’s head in the water.

          • Batman@lemmy.world
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            1 day ago

            You’re right it was an 8 person racing shell back then. It’s atleast 1300 lbs of people giving lots of momentum. Oars were carbon fiber.

              • P00ptart@lemmy.world
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                1 day ago

                Get out of here. People deal with far stronger hits to the head than an accidental rowing incident, especially if the oar has hit water beforehand. Even without a helmet, that’s nothing compared to the collisions of rugby, hockey or football on a regular basis. You’re just being silly.

    • DaddleDew@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      Training. All pilot or flying crew members, military or civilian, need to fly to become qualified to do their jobs and need to keep flying regularly to maintain their qualification.