NH soldier among 5 killed in training exercise in Mediterranean Sea – Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News

A staff sergeant from New Hampshire was among five U.S. Army Special Operations soldiers killed in a helicopter crash in the Mediterranean Sea late last week, the Department of Defense announced. 

The crash happened on Friday. In an update Monday, the DOD said the MH-60 Blackhawk had been conducting aerial refueling training when it “experienced an in-flight emergency resulting in the crash.” 

Tanner Grone, 26, of Gorham, New Hampshire was killed in the crash. 

Citing service details shared by Army Special Operations Command, officials said Grone enlisted in the Army in 2017 as a Blackhawk repairer. From there, Grone served as a flight instructor and as an MH-60M Blackhawk crew chief. 

Officials said Grone deployed multiple times to Iraq and Afghanistan, with “several no-notice deployments and exercises” during his career. He also received multiple awards and commendations. 

The DOD identified other soldiers killed in Friday’s crash as follows:

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Stephen R. Dwyer, 38 of Clarksville, Tennessee
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Shane M. Barnes, 34, of Sacramento, California
Sgt. Andrew P. Southard, 27, of Apache Junction, Arizona
Sgt. Cade M. Wolfe, 24, of Mankato, Minnesota. 

While an investigation continued Monday, the DOD said there were no indications the crash was caused by enemy or hostile actions. 

“Our thoughts and prayers remain with the families of the fallen,” the DOD said. 

‘An American success story’

Gorham Town Manager Peter Gagnon said the town would be flying its flags at half staff in honor of the soldiers killed in Friday’s crash. He continued, saying the town is doing whatever it can to help support Tanner Grone’s family. 

“He will be missed by a lot of people,” Gagnon told 7NEWS.

Grone grew up in Gorham. Gagnon was his history teacher and said he enjoyed playing sports in school but found a home in the military.

“I saw that kind of sparkle in his eye when he said ‘I think I found something,’” Gagnon said.

“He is an American success story,” Gagnon said. “He is a young man who grew up in rural New Hampshire that went out and saw the world.” 

Now, in the wake of Grone’s death, Gagnon said his memory will live on. 

“We were all kind of blessed to know him,” Gagnon said. “Maybe his legacy can just be to show others — ‘Find out what you love to do and then just go do it.’”

“He had a lot of love in his life and I know his parents and his family are very, very proud of him and they wouldn’t have changed a thing,” Gagnon continued.

US leaders mourn soldiers killed in crash

Lt. Gen. Jonathan Braga, commander of US Army Special Operations Command, said in a statement to CNN that the loss of five soldiers marked “devastating news that reverberates across the entire Special Operations community.”

“We mourn the loss of these five incredible Soldiers, each of them a national treasure,” Braga said. 

Braga said the fallen soldiers “hail from rare patriotic families with deep military service ties that span multiple generations and formations.” 

He continued, saying the special operations community would “wrap our arms” around the soldier’s families and “promise to never forget them.”

President Joe Biden in a post on X said he and First Lady Jill Biden were mourning the loss of the soldiers on Sunday.

“We are praying for the families and friends who lost a precious loved one — a piece of their soul,” Biden said. “Our entire nation shares their grief.

Military officials first announced the crash on Saturday, as reported by the Associated Press. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin further addressed the crash in a statement Sunday. 

Austin said the crash happened “late Friday evening” and said the soldiers killed “represent the best of America.”

 “While we continue to gather more information about this deadly crash, it is another stark reminder that the brave men and women who defend our great nation put their lives on the line each and every day to keep our country safe,” Austin said.  

“My prayers are with the patriots we have lost today and their families, loved ones, and teammates,” he continued.

The US has recently built up its forces in the Mediterranean region in response to the war between Israel and Hamas.

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